I first wish to thank my friend, the distinguished Senator from Connecticut, for his very important words.

I am very, very concerned about the direction of where this is going, and one of the reasons I did not support the budget resolution was because of the provision that would assume $1 billion coming from opening ANWR.

today I wish to reflect on Veterans Day and the debt of gratitude each of us owes those who are willing to serve our country in our Armed Forces. Each year I have the honor of attending Veterans Day events across Michigan. At each parade…

in recognition of National Forest Products Week, I would like to commend the more than 27,000 men and women who work in the forest products sector in my home State of Michigan. Taken together, Michigan is home to nearly 200 forest products…

I know we are in the middle of a discussion and certainly a debate right now about a budget resolution, and, obviously, I participated in discussions of how concerned I am about the priorities in the budget resolution. I think the people…

first, let me say that the people of Michigan and our country deserve a better deal than what is in this budget. There are a number of concerns I have, but I want to mention three big ones, and I am proud to join with colleagues on…

I ask unanimous consent for two minutes to speak, please. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Our farmers deserve strong and qualified leaders who will fight for all of American agriculture.

we need tax reform that helps small businesses close these tax loopholes that are taking jobs overseas. Instead, we need to create those jobs at home. We need tax reform that puts money in the pockets of middle-class families in Michigan…

one of the most important things for me is closing tax loopholes that send our jobs overseas, and basically supporting American businesses.

should their workers, the community, through their taxes, pay for the move?

We should be making more investments in rural America, not less.

We do not have a middle class unless we make things and grow things.

We need to strengthen the tools available to extend high-speed Internet to every corner of the country.

I have always said that the farm bill is a jobs bill.

The popular Rural Energy for America Program, known as REAP, helps producers and businesses lower their utility bills.

It is unacceptable that there are small towns that cannot afford to modernize their water systems to provide clean drinking water.

There is bipartisan concern about making sure we are not cutting back on significant things like rural water infrastructure or small business.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to each of you for your excellent testimony.

The economic benefit is twofold--new markets for our farmers, and new jobs and manufacturing opportunities for our businesses.

I would like to talk about broadband, which is a passion of mine.

Rural communities are often the first to feel the effects of an economic downturn and the last to see the impacts of an improving economy.

If we do not fix that we are not going to see the quality of life that we want in our rural communities.

I wondered if you could talk a little bit more about the REAP program, and the fact that it is consistently oversubscribed.

first of all, I rise with a sigh of relief that the decision has been made not to go forward with a vote on a very divisive healthcare bill. More importantly today, I rise to say this is really an opportunity for us to work together to get…