Thank you, Chairman Landrieu, Senator Murkowski, for the opportunity to speak.

We just cannot patrol waters--we are not patrolling waters within just 15 miles, as you know, of our coastline.

I know that Senator Murkowski, who has just been a phenomenal leader for Alaska, and such a strong voice, not only for this community, but for the entire State.

We are an Arctic Nation.

We honor the work of the United States Coast Guard and two of its fallen Kodiak Guardsmen.

I want to be a partner with her to develop assets that our Nation needs to stay first in global competition.

I like to say, as an advocate for the industry, but also for good environmental practices, that until the Deepwater Horizon, there was more natural seepage of oil into the ocean than oil ever spilled from a rig.

I remain committed to providing the men and women of the Coast Guard the tools they need to accomplish your many missions.

It may be shocking, Senator, to think about this, but 47,000 personnel and 7,000 vessels responded to that accident.

I plussed-up the research budget of Homeland Security by $200 million. I feel very strongly in investing in research dollars.

I have to just say for the record, it is shocking to see the technology that the drug cartels have.

The United States must prepare now to realize and act on the significant opportunities and address the changing needs in the Arctic.

These boats need to be seaworthy and have a very different mission, of course, than the Navy, but they have to be big and strong and able to maintain.

I hope we are filing charges not just against the man operating the ship but the buyers of these fish and tracking it down to the networks that are really funding these kinds of illegal operations.

I am forever grateful to him and the Coast Guard men and women who helped aid those in need following the hurricane.

as Congress prepares to adjourn for the August State work period, nearly 50 million students are preparing to head back to approximately 100,000 elementary and secondary public schools across the country. What a great responsibility it is…

I thank Senator Coburn for letting me speak in advance of his time on the floor. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cardin). The Senator from Oklahoma.

I come to the floor to speak about a bill that I have the pleasure of helping to lead with several of my colleagues, particularly Senator Grassley, who has been my long- standing partner and a wonderful cochair of the foster care caucus…

first, before I begin the topic I wish to speak about, I thank Mr. Warner, the Senator from Virginia, for his leadership. He has many Federal employees, many defense contractors in Virginia. He, as a Senator from Virginia, recognizes the…

I come to the floor today to discuss the importance of small businesses in the United States. It cannot be stated enough that small businesses are the economic engines of our country. Small businesses also represent the essence of the…

Reducing investments in education is not the way to close the achievement gap or stimulate reform.

It makes no sense. We can stay here all night, and I am not sure we can get anybody to understand it. We have to reverse this law and get transparency back into our electoral process.

It is actually giving more power to the people who control the corporation. Not only do they control their own vote and personal opinion, which is fine, but it gives them extra power because they have access to wealth and influence in the…

May I expand on the Citizens United? The Senator from Rhode Island and Senator McCain wrote a brief to the Supreme Court suggesting the detrimental impact of the decision the five Justices have made. Did they, in that decision--how did…

I will respond to that, if I may. The Senator hit the nail on the head. Some people--I am one of them--believe there is literally an effort to discourage people generally from believing that government can work at all by being so negative…