I do want to thank you for the proposed increase, which is an acknowledgement that the Federal Government does have an obligation to clean up those sites across the nation.

Increasing the construction budget for the VA would provide construction jobs, and that is, I know, an important goal for the budget, as well.

I told you that people all across my State were hurting, and small businesses were coming to me and saying they could not meet their payroll and could not get loans.

I look forward to that discussion. We have a lot of small businesses in my State that are really struggling with capital today.

It recognizes those veterans and I want to thank you for that.

reducing the construction budget in particular by 15 percent is a real concern to many of us.

They were pretty angry that their tax dollars were being used to cover the consequences of years of recklessness on Wall Street and failures of a regulatory system.

I ask unanimous consent for 5 minutes to speak on the judicial nomination coming before us at 6 o'clock. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The remarks of Mrs. Murray are printed in today's Record under…

I will share--my legislation is actually called Career Pathways to bring together local community, business, labor, education folks to start planning and working toward those skills.

It has helped to re-engage them with their community and teach them about the demands of the workplace.

So I just wanted to do that.