Patty Murray

I would just argue that the aviation industry has, in fact, really been hit because obviously September 11th had an impact on people's willingness to travel by air.

Let me just ask you, do you foresee a scenario where the President would veto the supplemental if we do add $3 plus billion for aviation?

But would you not agree that we have required a lot of our airports and our airlines in terms of security that has added a burden at a time when they are still struggling because of the economy?

Certainly the Administration would have sympathy for that.

There is a fairness element.

This is for aviation workers and I understand they have had the triple whammy.

The Administration's supplemental budget request included absolutely nothing for our airlines, our airports, or our aviation workers.

Unfortunately, it has not been clear what, if anything, the Bush Administration wants to do to address the crisis in our aviation industry.

Our airlines, our airports, and our employees are facing an immediate crisis and they need our help.

I offered an amendment to increase the size of the aviation relief package from $2.8 billion to $3.5 billion dollars.

It is difficult to overstate the seriousness of the crisis facing this vital part of our Nation's transportation infrastructure.

I would just encourage you to stay in close touch with our families here who are watching news reports with a great deal of anxiety.

I think we are all very disturbed by the images of the prisoner of war (POWs), and I know their families here in this country are really--there is a lot of anxiety.

I hope that you take a look at that, because there is a lot of disagreement on that.

Well, I am deeply concerned about that.

I hope that you look at the language of the minority report.

Will you look at the minority report?

I know you are an educator. And you cannot believe that it makes sense to transfer students to schools that are overcrowded even to the point of causing health and safety concerns.

When we wrote the No Child Left Behind, the teacher quality money was under the Teacher Quality State Grants.

With all due respect, let me just tell you that when we worked on the No Child Left Behind, the authorization for this requirement and this money were under the Teacher Quality State Grants.

That makes it difficult for us, as we try and manage this.

Do you not agree that fulfilling that kind of mandate will require significant investments in training and recruiting and retaining and testing teachers?

But you are not going to give us a formal request of any kind so that we know how the President wants to set these priorities?

I am very disconcerted by the President's budget.

I find the President's budget to have serious shortfalls.