I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection having been heard, the bills will receive their second reading on the next legislative day. ____________________

It is a good thing. The Senator from Alaska is right on as usual on this subject and in the main stream of what most Americans, I believe, are thinking about. I wanted to ask the Senator from Alaska, following his comments--I mean, why…

I am surprised myself. I hope when we do go home constituents in all of our States will say: Stop the bumper sticker politics on the floor of the Senate and get down to passing an energy bill. I think we most certainly, if we stop…

There will be two votes around 6 p.m. tomorrow on judicial nominations. Additionally, cloture was filed today on the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act. If no agreement is reached, that vote will occur on Thursday. ____________________

Some people may say that this country cannot afford these investments--I say we cannot afford not to make them.

But right now, it's got to come from the Administration, and I've got to ask you all to be forceful and fight the fight, and we'll back you up.

It's going to bankrupt us.

We need to ask the Administration, starting with the thinking that's already done, to think with us, and provide a vision, an idea, for what we need to do about locks and dams and what we need to do about harbors.

This budget is wholly insufficient, and it's not your fault, Madam Chair. It's our fault as the general Appropriations Committee, and we have to say to the President, and to our leadership, we cannot take it, the country cannot.

Well, Madam Chair, I'm with you 1,000 percent. I serve on the Appropriations Committee, obviously, I'm on the subcommittee, but I can honestly say, of all the committees I serve on, there is no budget that is in more crisis than this one.

I believe that the NIH funding should be a priority and that its benefits extend well beyond its research discoveries.

So, Madam Chair, just think about this big picture for a minute. Of all the waterways in the country that bring in resources from the South, the East, and the West, our channels, this budget, is barely maintaining one-third of their…

I ask unanimous consent that on Wednesday, March 28, at 5 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 464 and 497; that there be 60 minutes for debate, equally divided in the…

For decades, the people of my State have been fighting a noble battle to save the most productive and environmentally significant coast and delta in the world.

And I agree with the Senator that we have to think big, but we're going to need a bigger budget to do that.

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to consideration of S. Res. 407, submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S…

I ask unanimous consent the Senate agree to the House request to return the papers on H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act, and authorize the Secretary of the Senate to return the papers on H.R. 5 to the House of Representatives. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

This budget that we have in front of us... simply does not have enough money to maintain or invest or build the structures that we have to to build an economy that lasts.

I understand there are three bills at the desk. I ask for their reading en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bills by title en bloc for the first time. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 2682)…

while I am on the floor, I would like to speak for a few more minutes, if I might, on another subject but one that is equally important. The Senator from Alaska and I just spent some time talking about a balanced approach to energy…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until Wednesday, March 28, at 10 a.m.; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed…

I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The…

There's no way around it. And until we can figure out a way to put more private and public money on the table, we're not going to get there.

I do not agree with the funding level proposed by the administration for the NIH.

I am determined to find a way through this maze of all the fancy financing to figure out a way to get back to that.