Frank Lautenberg: “today we heard some interesting news. I would have used the term startling, but based on the news we are seeing from the…”

“today we heard some interesting news. I would have used the term startling, but based on the news we are seeing from the various war fronts, it is hard to find anything more startling. The reference I make to this news is brought about by a report. I come out of the corporate world, so I am interested in corporate performance in this country. I saw the report. If you watch television or read the papers-- ExxonMobil, I would say, had a pretty good year. Their profit for this quarter was $10.4 billion--for the quarter. That is up from $7.65 billion the same quarter last year. That is pretty stunning news. It is the largest quarterly earnings of any corporation in America, save one. That is in the history of this country. In the history of this country, ExxonMobil, the quarter just ended in June, was the second highest in the history of the country. If they were selling widgets or some product, we would say: OK, that is a pretty good job. But when they are selling a commodity that people are literally begging for by way of availability, it is a different picture. This oil and gas is so much a part of our life that it is almost like the air we breathe or the water we drink. It is incredible. That then spurred my curiosity. I am, going to file an amendment to the Energy bill. I send it to the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Martinez). Is there objection to setting aside the pending amendment? In my capacity as a Senator from the State of Florida, I object.”