I ask unanimous consent to use oversized charts on the floor today because, basically, the information I have will not fit on a standard size chart and still be readable. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

in a very short period of time, we are going to be considering an increase in the debt limit. It is for a specific period of time, but it is, at a minimum, going to be $500 billion. What is in front of our country, especially as we see…

I have no doubt there was significant damage in the past of fisheries both on the west coast, Alaska, and on the east coast. But a large portion of this money in this bill is not for fisheries but for research. This should not be, in fact…

the Sandy supplemental appropriations bill provides $3.5 billion in funding for new construction projects through the Corps of Engineers. Part of that $3 billion is toward reducing future flood risk--not repairing present but reducing…

There is a lot of work in this bill for the Corps of Engineers, and they are going to have a lot of work to do in the remediation and mitigation that is associated with Hurricane Sandy. However, in this bill is a provision which says that…

I ask unanimous consent to recapture 15 seconds of my time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has 40 seconds remaining.

It doesn't mean they won't get rebuilt; it means that portion of the increase will be a contribution rate of 35 percent. We are going to do a complete restoration of what was there. The differential is and what we know from history, when…

amendment No. 3371 is a good government house cleaning for FEMA. FEMA determines disasters based on a declaration process that is based on a per capita income--or per capita damage indicator. It has not been revised to account for the…

there is no reason to take additional time. The fact is right now with FEMA, they have prebid contracts. In New Jersey, they didn't take the lowest competitive bid contract on the debris removal. We are going to spend about 20 percent, 25…

I think the Senator from California has a great solution to the problem. I was not aware of that being accepted. I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

I ask unanimous consent to speak for 2 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I understand that amendment No. 3383 is now in order. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is on agreeing to amendment No. 3370, division II. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called…

this bill is full of authorizations--I mean, literally, full of authorizations. This is something I have studied and looked at. I have been looking at FEMA for 8 years. We should not wait to do this. Let's do it now. It is common sense. It…

before we go to the second amendment--I ask unanimous consent--I am looking at my transcription of this amendment. It says 50 miles. So if, in fact, what is at the desk does not say 50 miles, I ask unanimous consent to amend the amendment…

amendment No. 3382 would require the use of competition for all Federal contracts awarded after the date of the enactment of this act for disaster assistance. It would also require the Federal agencies to review and recompete no-bid…

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To reduce the amount that triggers the requirement to notify…

I ask unanimous consent that that amendment be set aside and amendment No. 3383 be called up. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator…

I am sorry that the Senator from Louisiana has left the floor because if she would have checked my voting records, I have not voted for extending the Bush tax cuts because they weren't paid for. I said that on the floor. I have not voted…

I would object to that at this point in time. I would have liked to have had 5 minutes. I have to be somewhere at 7:30. I came down here, but I wanted to make some points before I leave. I was trying to sum up.

I believe I am through, Mr. Chairman, and I would make the following point-- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.

I am happy to do that. Let me tell you what crux of this amendment is. When we have disasters, we have real, legitimate needs. We have families who are hurting. We have businesses that are belly-up. We have homes that are destroyed. We…

Per the further request of Senator Schumer, I put a division in this amendment so we would have two votes on it, separating out the fisheries. Because he felt that was important, I was glad to accommodate his needs.

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. 1106. PROHIBITION ON…

I ask unanimous consent that that amendment be set aside and amendment No. 3370 be called up. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Casey.) Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows…