First, I am grateful for the indulgence of our colleague on the committee, our ranking member and senior Republican, Mr. Mica, for responding so quickly to the action of the other body. We are unaccustomed to such prompt unanimous action…

I yield myself an additional minute. An orphan site is one of the issues to be addressed, as we do under the Superfund Act. Yet the order of priority for response under the law, its first responsibility, is for the responsible party to act…

I yield myself an additional minute. We are going to hold them accountable. The Coast Guard will hold them accountable. I do want to point out that the emergency fund is an account within the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. It is not a…

I yield myself an additional 30 seconds. I would also point out that the previous administration of 2005, six, seven, and eight approved 4,120 offshore leases, including for this particular MMS lease sale--or 206--an exemption from a…

I yield myself the balance of my time. Again, I'm greatly appreciative of the partnership in our committee with the gentleman from Florida and for working so expeditiously under minimal notice that both of us had to bring this unexpected…

The purpose for this request is that we may resolve a technical problem that the Senate notified us of in the drafting of the language of the bill and in the reference to the appropriate section of the Internal Revenue Code, and we need to…

Certainly. And I thank the gentleman. And I share that concern. In the hearing yesterday, I made it very clear that the committee would move forward with the broader changes that the gentleman just discussed, Madam Speaker, so that the…

I yield the gentleman an additional 20 seconds. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman from Minnesota has expired.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I strongly support this legislation extending Build America bonds and marketable distribution of highway funding. Build America bonds allow taxable bond access for State and local governments, create new types of…

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I tip my hat also to the Member of Congress whom I call ``Ms. Amtrak,'' ``Ms. Passenger Rail,'' whose passion is evident; who works tirelessly day and night, week after week, to advance the cause of…

I reserve my time so the distinguished ranking member of the committee may speak at this moment.

I yield myself 10 seconds to thank the gentleman from Oregon for his constant attention to the work of our committee and to the water issues as well, and for his splendid presentation. I now yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman…