Would the sponsors please explain the decision to change the effective date of the bill to November 6, 2002, and discuss the transition rules that apply after that date? In addition, can they please clarify their intent concerning the…

this is a change that makes sense. I hope we will adopt it this year. It is long overdue to change our tax policy to reflect the modern-day realities of running a small business.

I am pleased to join several of my colleagues in rising in support of increased fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks. Some people have tried to cast this argument as a choice between trucks and better fuel economy. This is simply…

Today I join Senators Wellstone, Kennedy, DeWine, and Bayh in introducing the National Domestic Violence Hotline Enhancement Act. This legislation would authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee the creation of a…

last Friday night, I attended the Maine Annual Fisherman's Forum in Rockport, ME. This is a wonderful event that brings leaders from the industry together to talk about problems that the fishing industry is experiencing. We have a…

I want to remind those who say that the Senate, the other body, is going to accept this as dead on arrival. I also want to remind Members of this: the majority Members of the other body support a stimulus package. It is the supermajority…

As we commemorate National Duchenne Awareness Week, I express my gratitude to my colleagues and to the Bush administration for their support late last year in passing H.R. 717, the Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance Research and…

I am following with great interest the work of the U.S. Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facility Needs for Seniors in the 21st Century, a Congressionally established panel co-chaired by Nancy Hooks of New York and Ellen…

as I was stating, people who are unemployed are more interested in a job even though they know when they do need some subsidy, such jobs are created again or opened back up. Last year before the Committee on the Budget, the Chairman of the…

I am very pleased that legislation I authored has been included in the final version of the farm bill. The legislation, known as the Suburban and Community Forestry and Open Space Initiative Act, would help to combat the threat of suburban…

I praise Senator Grassley for his heroic efforts in trying to bring together a bipartisan group to come up with a package that would help our economy recover. I am disappointed the Senate majority leader has announced his intention to…

It is very burdensome recordkeeping for small businesses to have to deal with depreciation schedules and sometimes very unrealistic recovery periods. For example, most computers are required to be depreciated over a 5-year period, but we…

our amendment is as straightforward as it is effective. Under section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code, a small business can deduct up to $24,000 of the cost of qualifying property placed in service in any given year. The deduction is…

I have always heard that money talks and B.S. walks. Well, Mr. Speaker, there is enough money in this bill to talk, but there is a lot of rhetoric here tonight that should walk. Yes, there is a difference of opinion as to how this health…

let me begin by saluting the outstanding leadership of Senator Kennedy and Senator Gregg. It is due to their tireless efforts, their commitment to a quality education, and their persistence and hard work that we can celebrate today the…

As always, I am impressed by the ranking member's knowledge and his grasp of the issues, and I appreciate that we are in agreement as to the value and need for this critical ship. I look forward to our continued work together in support of…

I rise today to discuss with the distinguished chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, a matter of great importance to our national security--our naval shipbuilding programs. As my colleagues are aware…

I also would like to briefly speak on the LPD-17 program, which is a critical ship for the modernization of the Navy's amphibious force. Each of these ships can carry more than 700 Marines and their equipment to shore to perform their…

The next generation destroyer, now the DD(X) program, is the Navy's future and way ahead to transform our naval forces to meet the challenges of the 21st century. This program, which will emphasize a common hullform and technology…

Our seaports are as important in the war against terrorism as the safety of the food we eat and the security of the planes we fly in.

We must have a clear chain of accountability to achieve port security.

With more than 95 percent of our imports flowing through our ports and with millions of passengers and maritime containers passing through them with only limited inspections, we must have a far better security system in place than we do…

We must improve coordination between Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as the private sector.

I think it is interesting that at every single hearing we have had, no matter what the areas we are looking at, we find that agencies are not talking to one another or not sharing information or there is a lack of coordination.

I want to thank you for convening this important hearing.