We have to give them the capability to handle those costs in a more efficient way.

Just a followup on Senator Heitkamp's discussion.

This Committee's authority is the broadest in the Congress.

this bill, the Audit the Pentagon Act of 2013, sharpens the teeth of the appropriations and accountability clause in the Constitution, article I, section 9, clause 7, which says: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in…

Leadership at the General Counsel's Office ought to give very strict instruction for cooperation with an IG investigation.

That was not the intent of Congress.

reserving the right to object, and I don't intend to object, I would like to modify his unanimous consent request and ask that I be permitted to speak for 15 minutes after his colloquy. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

I appreciate having the opportunity to talk about this subject. I also appreciate my colleagues. They are absolutely right in everything they said in terms of the effect of ObamaCare. I was here when that debate took place. But there are…

The national park system as now constituted should not be lowered in standard, dignity, and prestige by the inclusion of areas which express in less than the highest terms the particular class or kind of exhibit which they represent.

It ought to be a priority to fund the maintenance of our parks.

Congress and multiple administrations have recognized the deferred maintenance problem for years.

So I think it has to be balanced.

It's half of what they need.

There's $370 million bucks a year we're falling behind.

For decades Administrations from both parties have acknowledged the underfunding for maintenance of existing assets and the deteriorating status of the National Park System.

we shouldn't be doing that when we can't take care of the ones we've got

first of all, I thank the chairman of the full committee and the chairman and the ranking member of the subcommittee. I first want to give them some praise. Although I don't agree with the total numbers in this bill, I do recognize the…

I would like to spend a moment talking about amendment No. 1750. This bill has a prohibition in it that I think is long overdue and very good. What it does is it prohibits the transfer of funds for Federal assistance in the bill to…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded just to talk about the THUD bill.

The National Park Service has $3 billion, a little bit less than $3 billion budget.

I appreciate what Senator Murkowski said. I think the LWCF fund ought to be reallocated.

But remember, this is a compounding, growing problem.

I would say if we could develop a champion, a retired Senator, a retired Congressman, a retired Vice President, who would go around the country and rally for the parks to endow the parks...

I love Yellowstone. I love Rocky Mountain National Park. I love the Grand Tetons.

What you need is a champion. You know, we had a champion for parks, Teddy.