Great. Now, our second one is Buffalo, similar. Buffalo has experimented with different kinds of transit, particularly the Main Street Project, which was a flop.

I think he is going to be a great Ambassador to a very important relationship, that between United States and Norway.

So, it is full speed ahead.

So I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader. Mr. McCONNELL. I believe I objected to the majority leader's request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator did so. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to call up…

Let me just say, I think on both sides of the aisle there is a real desire to try to work things out so we can have more debate, more discussion. It seems to me, from the years I have been here--not as long as either leader--there has…

Objection. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard to the Republican leader's request. Is there objection to the majority leader's request? Mr. McCONNELL. I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The majority leader.

So that means JFK, because we have the longest wait time. Is that right?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome to all the nominees, particularly to the one I know best, to my good friend Gil Kerlikowske.

The situation is clearly unacceptable, as we need more agents, ushering travelers, sports fans, shoppers, commercial vehicles into western New York.

JFK Airport in New York has the longest average Customs wait line in the country.

Gil has a very solid track record in interagency coordination and implementing new initiatives.

We have to improve it. It has to be fast and efficient, but we always have to do it in a cost-effective way too.

I urge my colleagues to confirm him for this position as quickly as possible.

I would like to ask the leader a question. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

first, I thank my colleague and friend and roommate from Illinois--we are going to miss our landlord deeply-- for his articulate enunciation of where we are here. We have always extended unemployment benefits, and we have done it, in most…

I see what is going on here. Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle know the power of this issue but don't really want to vote for it, and so they are putting impossible logjams in the path. Who would believe that on this side of…

Senator Vitter and I offered an amendment to the Senate budget calling on Congress to eliminate this subsidy.

This idea that unemployment benefits encourage them not to work is balderdash. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia.

I thank my friends from Illinois and Rhode Island. How much time is remaining on our side? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 1 minute 30 seconds.

I thank my colleague. We are good friends and I know his heart is in the right place. I would just make a couple of quick points before I get into a little bit of the substance, and I will be brief. The reason this extender has special…

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 1882, a bill to extend the exclusion from income for employer-provided mass transit and parking benefits; that the bill be read three times and passed; and the…

I ask unanimous consent the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 19, 2013, at 9:30 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I want to echo the outstanding words of my colleagues from both Florida and Louisiana. They echo the views of many. Everyone says the public is exasperated with the Congress. Our approval ratings are low. They are. Why? It is simply…

I thank my colleague from Michigan for her heartfelt words. I couldn't agree with her more. I thank the majority leader and my colleagues from Ohio and New Jersey as well for recognizing the importance of this package of tax relief. The…

My understanding is just that, that in the--even possibly in the first week when we get back, that the leader, having rule XIV'd it, which means he can bring it to the floor right away, can put it on the floor and, of course, then people…