I take this time to call to my colleague's attention my pending amendment, amendment No. 4050. This is the amendment that would require the oil companies to disclose the payments that they make to countries for mineral rights. It is in…

what has happened in the Gulf of Mexico makes one thing very clear; that is, America's energy policy is a disaster. I thank Senator Kerry, Senator Lieberman, and Senator Boxer for their leadership in pointing out the need for America to…

I strongly support the legislation that Senator Mikulski has been involved with that would give the FTA the authority to set up safety standards for our transit system.

It is critically important the Federal Government live up to its commitment as a partner, but also to establish a way that we can be more actively involved as a partner with Metro in regards to the safety.

I thank Senator Menendez for his leadership on S. 3305. I hope his request will be granted. As the other Senators have said, basically whose side are you on? Who should pay for this disaster? Should it be the taxpayers of this country…

There has been no stronger voice in the United States Congress on this issue than Senator Mikulski.

The Senate recently passed the new Metro compact, further advancing the final steps of authorizing a 10-year $1.5 billion authorization for Metro with a dedicated funding system.

It is critically important. And I want to thank the appropriators for making those funds available.

I don't mind being associated with Metro, I'm a big supporter of the Transit Authority.

Our rail system is not brand-new anymore. It is 34 years old.

It is a critical service for us to provide because we are, in fact, the lifeline for many of those people.

The Washington, DC area ranks second-worst in the United States as far as traffic congestion is concerned.

I believe the Federal Government must play a greater role in assuring the safety of the Metro system for its riders and employees.

I strongly support President Obama's budget that adds $150 million this year to the Metro funding for fiscal year 2011.

I quite frankly didn't understand this.

When will that information be made available, do you know?

I appreciate that statement, and I am going to come back to it in a moment. But you still haven't quite answered to me, and I am against drilling off the Pacific. And I am against the North Atlantic drilling.

I find it somewhat offensive to the Chesapeake Bay and the State I represent for us to be considered less worthy for protection than the West Coast of the United States or the north Atlantic.

I hope that you are reconsidering because I listen to you.

I wish to take a few minutes to thank Senator Dodd for his extraordinary leadership on this bill. I know he is working through a lot of amendments. I know a lot of us have been urging him to allow us to present amendments. I know he has…

A spill in lease sale site 220, if we had a spill there, is very likely it would affect the Maryland coastline.

As a New Orleans native I know first-hand the importance of the natural environment to the economy, the health, and the culture of the Gulf Coast.

I can tell you the way that currents run off the mid-Atlantic, the way the wind blows, any oil spill will affect the Chesapeake Bay.

I am against drilling off the mid-Atlantic, and I am going to do everything I can to prevent drilling off the mid-Atlantic.

I am very much in support of that.