Susan Collins

I will move to table the Schumer amendment, with the understanding that the time for a vote will be at a mutually agreed-upon time. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Alexander). The minority leader is recognized.

It will come out of the time of the Senator from Nebraska because we have the Senator from New York coming at 12:45 for his amendment. I have no objection with that understanding--that it will come out of the time of the Senator from…

I am compelled to object because we have another Senator coming over shortly for an amendment. I have promised the Senator from Nebraska and the Senator from Montana that they would have a few minutes to talk about their amendment.

I understand that this is directly related to the fiscal transparency, Google For Good Government, bill of the Senator from Oklahoma. I hope this will clear the way for its passage. ____________________

Then I am going to have to object to the Senator proceeding at this time because we have proposed that all three amendments that deal with the scanning or screening of cargo be considered together, including the amendment of the Senator…

There is not necessarily an objection. I don't know because it is not under the jurisdiction of the committee that I am privileged to chair. So I don't want to prejudge whether there is an objection from the HELP Committee or not because I…

And without checking with the managers of the bill. We have a great number of Senators who are seeking to bring up their amendments or speak on the bill, and it would be helpful if the Senator from New York would work through the managers…

I will be happy to yield time to the Senator from South Carolina, depending on how much time he needs. Mr. DeMINT. About 5 minutes.

Therefore, Mr. President, although we are going to consider two more amendments tonight, there will be no more rollcall votes tonight. Amendment No. 4935

We are still not ready for the timing on that, but we have ordered the yeas and nays, and I hope we will be able to stack the vote to occur immediately after the conclusion of the vote on the amendment of the Senator from New Jersey.

I spoke earlier in favor of the amendment of the Senator from South Carolina. While he is here, I again commend him for his effort, his leadership in this area, and for working with both the Homeland Security and the Commerce Committees to…

For example, FEMA did not verify the identity of all of those seeking assistance. So we had people in jail applying for FEMA aid for rental assistance, believe it or not.

I have investigated a lot of examples of wasteful federal spending and I have never seen waste on this scale. The magnitude is just incredible. And it seems to be a bottomless pit.

This morning, at 10 a.m., the Senate will vote on the supplemental appropriations conference report. Following the vote, the Senate will resume consideration of the Defense authorization bill. The two managers have made substantial…

FEMA is discredited, demoralized, and dysfunctional.

There were several findings that I found particularly troubling. The first is the blatant insubordination of then-FEMA Director Michael Brown. It was clear that he was disengaged from the onset of Katrina. He failed to communicate…

Last night the majority leader filed cloture on the lobbying reform bill. Under the rule, that vote would occur on Friday although it is hoped that the vote could be expedited and occur sometime today. As a reminder, the majority leader…

I am more convinced than ever that the process was truly flawed.

That it involves potential unknown threats against a large number of potential vulnerabilities, that language is very troubling to me.

We can't keep them honest enough.

Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, told Chertoff, his agency's efforts were an alarming and unacceptable failure.

Do you swear that the testimony you are about to...

Another political fallout from Hurricane Katrina. The White House will shortly begin providing more documents to the Senate committee investigating what went wrong.

We can't find any evidence of a request to FEMA to get supplies to the Convention Center.

Pam became Katrina. The simulation beam reality, and optimism became the awful truth. We were not prepared.