I think this is the threat where there is the biggest gap between the seriousness of the threat and how little we have done legislatively to ensure that the Administration has the tools that it needs to address what is an escalating threat.

The need for recapitalizing the Coast Guard's fleet is more and more evident.

I think that is really unfortunate because so many of them work so hard with the best of motivations and intentions.

I think the cuts in the Coast Guard are something that we are going to need to take a very close look at.

As Senator Collins noted, we also followed up on our 2011 report.

That trend is unacceptable and highlights the importance of investing in the Coast Guard modernization effort.

If, in fact, we just passed a very limited bill that dealt only with information sharing and did not give the Department the authority to designate what is core critical infrastructure... we would be falling short in addressing what is a…

I think OMB needs to be much tougher and lead in this area, or else I for one am going to continue to support a legislative mandate.

We must ask why such major changes are being proposed without advance consultation with local governments and the full range of first responders charged with preventing, protecting against, and responding when incidents, man-made or…

What are you doing, given that this is such a longstanding problem, to ensure that FEMA is addressing improper payments in general?

I believe that Secretary Napolitano and the Administration have put forth a responsible budget request.

the majority leader has indicated that the Senate may soon turn to legislation to reform a much needed, much beloved American institution--the U.S. Postal Service. The Postal Service is nearly as old as our Nation itself. Our Founding…

I ask unanimous consent to proceed for up to 20 minutes in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

This approach by the Postal Service is all the more inexcusable given its unfortunate reputation for fuzzy math. By cutting service and raising prices and not fully calculating the resulting disastrous revenue losses, the Postal Service…

I am very pleased to see that the President's budget proposes $500 million for this vital program.

I am pleased to see the $500 million request for this vital program.

I would rather see that money spent on traditional mass transit, and roads, and bridges.

Transportation investments create jobs and establish the foundation for future economic growth, but it is equally important to our economic future that we rein in Federal spending and keep our national debt under control.

I think that kind of technical assistance and helping to share best practices that the Department has found is very helpful.

I worry that smaller community airports will simply not have the funds to contribute more than the current 20 percent, and could potentially be forced to shut down operations.

Are you concerned that using the General Fund in this matter undermines the whole concept of the Highway Trust Fund?

Let me just end my comments today by thanking you and the Department for your commitment, which helped us save freight rail----

In fact, I read one newspaper story that said you have been known to drive around Washington honking at drivers who are using their portable devices when they should be paying attention to the road ahead and behind them.

I appreciate your strong leadership at the Department of Transportation (DOT) and look forward to continuing to work together to promote fiscally responsible investments in our Nation's transportation infrastructure.

That's the kind of innovation in infrastructure finance that we need to produce a greater return for taxpayers.