Allowing more international visitors to enter the United States is not a zero sum game.

Let me ask Administrator Pistole. Airline pilots and flight crews are subject to extensive background checks.

last year I introduced legislation called the Fair Airline Industry Revenue (FAIR) Act to increase security fees on airlines that charge passengers for their first checked bag.

We appreciate Senator Landrieu's interest in this topic, which we have also explored at length.

The President's January announcement on tourism said that his goal is to expedite the visa issuance for visitors.

I support the chairman of the Banking Committee and his call for us to come together this week to support the expansion of the Export-Import Bank. It is an extremely successful tool to use to help small, medium, and large businesses to be…

Again to recap so people can see on this chart, AARP has written us against the House bill. Consumer Federation of America-- against the House bill. The AFL CIO--against the House bill. Yes, those are some of the left leaning…

I thank Senator Reed and Senator Levin who have helped to lead this effort to make a bill that is coming over from the House much better and much safer for investors, as well as to generate opportunities for more capital to flow to some of…

I want to first thank you for your extraordinary service.

I ask unanimous consent that morning business be extended until 5 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each and that the time be equally divided. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

That will benefit the Nation. But the bulk of that penalty money will go to the gulf coast, and it will not be wasted, I promise. The bill has tight safeguards and guidelines about the way that money will be spent restoring our marshes…

I ask unanimous consent that the order to proceed to executive session at 2 p.m. be vitiated. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I really appreciate the hard work that you do.

I want to take a minute to thank Senator Boxer and Senator Inhofe and the staffs of both of those excellent Senators who have worked so hard on this bill that is so important to our country. From New York to California, from Alaska to…

Is there anything that this subcommittee can do or this Congress to give you any latitude to expedite?

I just think it's not right to ask our veterans to wait sometimes 3 and 4 years for a resolution of their case.

What that means is our economy is weaker every day that a ship has to be light-loaded or stand offshore because the channel isn't deep enough to come in.

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'm going to write a letter to the President, and ask you all to sign it, and ask him to adjust his budget.

We need to be very aggressive in gathering the maritime dollars that are being paid for our ports and for our dredging.

We also have to be sensitive to the taxpayers that are picking up this tab.

We could have saved the size of the State of Rhode Island, which we have already lost.

While reading your testimony, I was most interested in what steps you take to increase the percentage of leased onshore lands which are currently producing.

I'm going to be on a tear this year to focus on our water transport because it's crucial.

If there was ever an example of what's going to happen, when the levees broke in New Orleans... is there any other case study that needs to be presented?