Hopefully it does get repealed soon, and unfortunately it did not happen earlier, but I hope it does happen now in this Lame Duck because I think it is going to represent serious consequences.

It is just staggering, the disconnect, between the reality of what we do here and what actually occurs on Main Street.

Your singular mission, Dr. Sargeant, is on the whole rulemaking process, and making sure that these regulations are not burdensome to small businesses.

Unquestionably we are facing what I describe as a regulatory stampede.

I would always advocate the more you can bring in input from the outside of how is this going to be felt before it is felt, would be hugely beneficial.

We have passed legislation that includes all that rulemaking.

Are you taking steps overall to triage all these new regulations that are going to be coming to the forefront among the various newly enacted legislation and all the other regulations?

Many have labeled it as a de facto tax, it certainly is.

It makes me wonder what the hidden agenda is, let alone what is described as a de facto tax.

Exactly why is it that you felt it was necessary to deal more confidentially with the Treasury Department, on the implementation of the 1099 requirement?

The more we discuss these issues, it underscores that we ought not pass regulations without knowing the effects before their implementation or enactment.

I could not understand why there was such strong resistance to the idea of ascertaining what the effects would be of any potential regulations before they were promulgated.

That is why Senator Enzi and I sent a letter, because of all these increased penalties on small businesses that are going to go from $1,000 to $3,000.

I rise in support of legislation with Senator Lincoln, Senator Collins, and Senator Chambliss, which would officially recognize The American Legion and its vital role in communities across the Nation, by designating September 16, 2010, as…

it has been nearly 2\1/2\ months since the majority leader first brought small business jobs legislation to the floor, and now this bill will pass the Senate through a constrained process under which the majority has continually stunted…

I rise today in support of the Johanns amendment to repeal an onerous mandate included in the health reform bill that would require millions of businesses to send billions of new information reporting forms to the IRS and other businesses…

I rise today with the heaviest of hearts to observe the ninth anniversary of the terrible tragedy that befell our country on September 11, 2001, and changed America--and Americans-- forever. We remember those whom we lost that terrible…

I have concluded that General Kagan should be confirmed as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. General Kagan would succeed Justice John Paul Stevens who has served our country as a decorated war veteran, a distinguished…

all I can think of, in listening to the Senator from Maryland, is if we could have limited this legislation before the Senate to the provisions we agreed to on a bipartisan basis--in fact, many of which passed unanimously in the Senate…

first of all, I hope that we could offer other amendments as well in addition to this. I think that is critically important, first and foremost. Just as you have had an opportunity to offer an amendment, our hope is that on our side of the…

I express my profound gratitude to the Senator from Rhode Island for his leadership on this initiative. It will have far-reaching implications and importance to our most vital resource, the oceans, and all they represent. I look forward to…

as I rise today to join Senator Whitehouse in introducing the National Endowment for the Oceans Act, our Nation continues to bear the brunt of what has now become the biggest offshore oil spill in recorded history. Since April 20, 2010…

I rise in remembrance of a deeply tragic anniversary for the Cypriot-American community, their friends and relatives in Cyprus, and for people everywhere who believe in timeless values such as liberty and human dignity. Thirty-six years…

Yes, thank you. Mr. Helton, did NOAA have any contingency plans in place with respect to a response to an oil spill in the aftermath of Exxon Valdez?

In hindsight, we can look back and see, without a doubt, that the industry and the Nation were simply unprepared for a disaster of this magnitude.