we have the largest land loss anywhere in the lower 48. And it's quite an urgent matter.

this is the first $10 million that's been directed in a budget for construction

we're grateful for the $10 million that is in this bill to begin turning dirt

I come to the floor today to speak on an issue that is of great importance to small businesses and independent inventors everywhere--patent reform. I understand that the Senate Judiciary Committee has been hard at work analyzing what…

We were one of the States that applied, as you know, and have been very encouraged by words that you and your administration have spoken about the good work that is happening in Louisiana.

this is a battle. It is not a waltz.

Nothing in our application was watered down.

half of something strong is better than 100 percent of something weak and watered down.

It is an honor to present Brian Anthony Jackson, who will bring valuable experience to the bench.

I appreciate your enthusiasm and your focus on improving our schools because it is quite a challenge.

Talent matters tremendously. It is a phenomenal pool of hard-working, committed folks.

We want to significantly increase that investment, going from $400 million in fiscal year 2010 to a proposed $950 million in 2011.

How will the proposed shift in the Department of Labor's (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) resources from compliance assistance to enforcement impact these VPP sites in terms of their ability to either obtain or…

I strongly support TFA. It is an authorized program in the law, not an earmark.

When you do the second round, are you thinking about the opportunity of a more fair scoring?

What is HHS doing to help States implement these reforms?

I believe that supporting real reformers is a smarter strategy, whether or not the reform plan has near unanimous stakeholder buy-in.

I think this subcommittee is going to be shocked when the numbers come in, about what our communities are going to have to either step up or pay in money that they don't have or pay in additional insurance premiums to get flood insurance…

Senator Saxby Chambliss and I have formed the Natural Gas Caucus and it is not because we are anti-oil or anti-coal.

But to recap, the amendment I am offering on behalf of myself and Senators Vitter, Cochran, and Wicker is an amendment that will help the recovery effort of the gulf coast, particularly as it relates to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama…

the battery technology is so interesting for all of us, but there are opportunities for plug-in, opportunities for new infrastructure for plug-in, with the current battery technology that we have now.

we need $300 million a year just to finish these 18 projects

We think the properties and the potential for natural gas are very significant.

I would just mention to my colleagues, this is really an unprecedented effort that's going on between the Corps and many of the environmental groups, the marine industry, the fisheries industry, the agriculture industry, the oil and gas…

we're grateful for the $10 million that is in this bill to begin turning dirt