It is imperative that we establish viable, effective, and accountable distribution mechanisms now to ensure that this unprecedented investment is targeted at critical projects that contribute to the overall recovery of the Gulf Coast.

I just can't impress upon the both of you how critical this is.

I am so proud of our work on the RESTORE Act.

I'm even willing to take a little bit less. I'm willing to be more flexible.

The Gulf of Mexico has suffered long enough. The revenues from the spill penalties offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to begin reversing decades' worth of destruction. The country cannot allow this opportunity to be wasted by inadequate…

the environmental interest is also the people's interest because of what brings... people to the Gulf to enjoy it.

The time for action is now; we cannot afford to wait.

I'll be working on legislation to address both the short term reauthorization of these programs and long-term funding for counties as well as jobs from increased forest management.

But 500 jobs and the jobs that are created along the coast do not compensate for the loss of revenues.

I am proud to be able to say today that all three financing mechanisms established in the wake of the 2010 oil spill to help restore the coast now have funding in place.

I object. Reserving the right to object, I have some difficulty with the amendment the Senator from Arizona wishes to discuss. I have been trying to get a vote on amendment No. 1113 on flood insurance, and one of the Members from the other…

I will try to do this in less than 3 minutes. I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside and the following amendments be made pending en bloc: Landrieu No. 1113, Johnson No. 1117, Cardin No. 1159, and Grassley No…

Reserving the right to object, may I ask the good Senator from Oklahoma, since he has talked about three amendments, may I ask unanimous consent for my amendment, to see if anybody would object to it?

I would ask the Senator, does he know that some of us are very sympathetic with the amendments he is offering, and does he know some of us would actually really like to vote on some of those amendments? I am sure he is aware. Is he aware…

I object. May I say something? First of all---- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Would the Senator yield?

I would respond to the Senator from Pennsylvania, then I will relinquish the floor to the managers of the bill because it is their responsibility and they have been doing a great job trying to help us get through the farm bill. I wish to…

I object to that as well, but I know the Senator wants to speak about it. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

I do not like at all objecting to the McCain amendment, but I am compelled to because I have been literally trying for several weeks now--not just on this bill but the previous bill--to get a vote, just a vote. I will even take a 60-vote…

on our side, let me tell my colleagues if they want to preserve jobs, vote against the Shaheen-Toomey amendment. The U.S. policy on sugar defends more than 142,000 jobs in 22 States and nearly $20 billion in annual economic activity. Their…

if it pleases the Chair, I would like to say a few remarks about sugar, but I am not sure about the chairwoman's plans. I thank the chairwoman of the committee and the ranking member. I know they are deciding what other amendments we are…

Now, you would catch that in an ACT test or you would catch it at an SAT.

I really appreciate the hard work of the Senators from Michigan and Mississippi, moving a farm bill through the Senate. It is one of the most important bills we will take up this year. Action on this bill is long overdue. I am very hopeful…

I was going to talk about the tornadoes, but I will take a moment to respond to my colleague from Utah. There are Members objecting to going to regular order on the budget, and he is one of them. The Senator from Utah himself is objecting…

There is a lot of focus in my view on what large businesses may need, GE, IBM, et cetera, but not enough in this discussion on immigration reform.

I know but the problem is what you have correctly identified as the long-term pipeline.