I want to commend these nominees, and observe that by this point in the hearing you're probably feeling pretty good about your chances for confirmation.

It is important that we have a fully-staffed Federal Communications Commission.

As a Senator representing a rural state, a primary concern of mine is that our Nation's rural areas have the same access to the economic benefits of broadband as those in urban areas.

It is important that we in Congress--and Commissioners at the FCC -ensure the policies we put forward are technologically neutral.

I ask unanimous consent that LCDR Ted Essenfeld, a very capable Navy fellow in my office, be granted floor privileges during consideration of the Defense authorization bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I rise this afternoon in support of the fiscal year 2012 national defense authorization bill. As ranking member on the Seapower Subcommittee, I wish to thank both Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain for their leadership. It is…

I rise as a cosponsor and strong supporter of this resolution of disapproval. Once again, we are witnessing a government regulation we do not need. There is a reason when we talk about today's economy that we talk about the cost of…

I have come to the floor on a number of occasions to voice my concern about the deteriorating rule of law and the lack of respect for human rights in Russia, primarily highlighting the cases of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev. The…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Human Rights in Russia

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll. The result was announced--yeas 57, nays 43, as follows…

Is it a good idea for 30-inch natural gas pipes to be running through residential areas like this?

I'm proud that last night that the Senate passed my Pipeline Transportation Safety Improvement Act.

But is there the likelihood that thousands of people watching this today have 30-inch natural gas pipelines running through their subdivisions without their knowledge?

I thank Senator Boxer for her efforts and I will continue working with her and our colleagues to make our country's pipelines safer.

I'd like to thank Senator Lautenberg for his leadership on this issue, and for working closely with the minority to craft a bill that will make needed improvements while ensuring that pipeline operators will continue to provide a high…

Thank you for acknowledging that one accident is too many. And particularly such a horrific incident as we had in San Bruno is just unthinkable, and horrific.

We have a real problem in that local governments don't know what's below, that local residents don't know what's below.

Well, there is no question about it. I appreciate my two friends coming down and helping with this colloquy today. There are two companies I want to talk about in a moment, but let me say at the outset that we all want to create jobs for…

The point is, they are a bunch of average, hard-working Mississippians, average, hard-working Americans, who are glad to come to work each day, working hard to build these boats, and we ought to encourage them. I don't know the corporate…

Well, just to say this, and I will take a minute to say it and then I will thank my friend from Georgia for taking the lead on this colloquy. We also need to show job creators that we are actually serious about fixing our fiscal house. You…

A reformed USF needs to adequately be responsive to the unique needs of rural America.

It's important that carriers willing to invest in rural broadband infrastructure... are not impeded by anti-competitive regulatory framework.

The Commission needs to make sure it does not embrace one technology over the other.

I thank the distinguished majority leader for yielding. I will not take long. I have been in the Senate 4 years now, and I think my colleagues know I do not come down to the floor and spout a lot of hot air. But I have to be heard tonight…

I reserve the right to object. If the Senator wishes to speak, I don't want to prevent him from speaking. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate is in a quorum call.