Kay Bailey Hutchison

As a Senator, it is unacceptable that our laws--or lack of them--have made our vehicles and roads less safe for students, families, and anyone traveling our Nation's roads.

I thank Senator Mikulski and Senator Boxer. Mr. President, I do want to talk about this remarkable woman because I think, as has been mentioned before, her loss is being felt throughout America for many different reasons. She was a…

It is incomprehensible that it has taken so long.

We wholly agree with Senator Hutchison. These reincarnated carriers are a blemish on the industry.

I hope that there is not a decision that puts it ahead of legacies in basically Florida, Houston, and California.

The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act deals with each of the major aspects of motorcoach safety.

I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside, and I call up amendment No. 197. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

I do wish to thank the Senator from Louisiana, who is managing the bill for her side, for allowing us to go forward with amendments. I think that is very important, and I do have an amendment that I think will help our small businesses and…

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: (Purpose: To delay the implementation of the health reform law in the…

For 10 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the request is granted. The clerk will report the amendment. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison] proposes an amendment numbered 197.

I do, Mr. President. I would like to have my amendment called up, then speak, and then I am happy to have the unanimous consent so that they know the order following me. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.

I wish to speak in favor of the McConnell amendment... However, Kerry-Lieberman is unique from previous efforts by also proposing a new gas tax on the transportation sector.

the reason we did not pass this legislation is everyone realized it would have raised the cost of gasoline. Now the EPA is trying to do the same thing by fiat. By executive fiat, they are trying to regulate greenhouse gases. What they are…

It's just not feasible. And certainly, NASA is one of those that, I have been bringing up repeatedly, must be in a long-term CR.

It is the law and it isn't an advisory framework.

The law prioritizes the continuation of work on the Orion crew exploration vehicle and redirects the agency's efforts to develop a heavy launch vehicle to carry Orion beyond low-Earth orbit.

Am I to take, then, from your answer that you are--where the contract is one that will be ongoing, but with modifications, that you are beginning to make those modifications?

We see that mission as extremely critical to us.

But, you're moving along the----

I am pretty critical--and the Chairman has been, as well--of the last 2 years' budget requests from the administration.

Are there any legal impediments, in the minds of those of you who are running the operations at NASA, to your moving immediately to the modification of useful contracts?

It doesn't seem like the contracts are being modified to address the law that uses the technologies that we have.

I'm trying to get a--just a clear answer to whether you are going in the direction that the law asked you to go, or actually told you to go.

But, are you moving toward the type of use of present technology, but with the further mission, beyond the present one, of using our technology but also being able to adapt it later for beyond-Earth orbit, and all of the relevant pieces of…

I have been working with the Chairman, now, for the last couple of years to have a plan for NASA, going forward, that we believe protects NASA's mission and is a balanced program that invests in the commercial sector, but has an emphasis…