We should benefit from it.

I think we have got a lot of soldiers transitioning and a few months means a few hundred more soldiers who are getting left behind.

I mandate that the transition assistance program become mandatory for all service members.

We have got to keep focusing on this because these are real families that are struggling.

once again I come to the floor to urge my colleagues to support the Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act. To be honest, I am disappointed this bill is facing so much opposition. All across the country, people are talking about ways to rein in…

It is a cost to society as well as a cost to the services.

I am startled by the rapidly increasing cost of unemployment insurance.

there is no higher priority, and with details of terrorist plots against rail targets emerging from the raid on bin Laden's compound, I want to make sure you have the resources you need to protect our railways and the passengers.

I know families in my home state of Washington deeply value our Amtrak service--the Cascade Line which just set record ridership for the second year in a row.

I agree that leaders in Washington, DC need to tighten our belts and work together to get our Nation's debt under control. But we cannot be reckless about this.

I support investment in intercity and high-speed rail, but it is now time to address the program's critics head on.

I appreciate both of your testimonies today, and I just want to reiterate that safety is a concern to everyone.

But many Republicans in the House say these cuts are not enough, and they are clamoring for more.

Amtrak representatives met with Senator Murray's staff to discuss HET.

We have to look to other alternatives such as passenger rail for the future.

We are now at a pivotal moment for our Nation's transportation policy.

Well, I appreciate the comments from both of you. I want to reiterate that rail security going forward is going to be very important.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance that you administer your programs and manage their funding effectively and responsibly.

I know families in my home State of Washington deeply value our Amtrak service, the Cascade Line, which just set record ridership for the second year in a row.

As has been mentioned a number of times now, we have discovered credible and specific documentation about al Qaeda's interest in launching an attack against our national rail network from information that was gathered at Osama bin Laden's…

What about additional security checks?

In the next couple months. The budget is not going to get any better, and we need to be able to show exactly what we are doing and why.

I worked hard for adequate funding for Amtrak and to see reforms of its financial management.

Which is why I am so disappointed that the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives has targeted rail transportation for their budget cuts.

I am concerned that TSA's security strategy for freight rail focuses almost exclusively on rail shipments of toxic inhalation hazards.