ms. murkowski: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from alaska is recognized. ms. murkowski: madam president, i ask permission to speak for up to no more than five minutes. the presiding officer: without objection. so ordered. ms. murkowski: thank you, madam president. i wanted to take just a few minutes this afternoon to thank my colleagues who have come down to the floor this afternoon, and for their efforts to offer what i believe are our very substantive, very meaningful amendments to the legislation that is before us. i think we can condense the message that you've heard here this afternoon pretty easily. the fact of the matter is that the bill before us is highly misleading and i don't believe it will work. the legislation that has been introduced, s. 2204, is not going to put an end to federal subsidies for oil and gas producers, because there are none. there are no subsidies here. the oil and gas industry actually sends money to the federal government to the tune of tens of billions of dollars each year, and it's not the other way around. basic tax deduction

ms. murkowski made comment to the production of natural gas on public lands, that -- and waters that in fiscal year 2011 have actually dropped 11% from the previous year. according to the interior data, also oil approach ducproduction lands has dipped 14%. as the administration talks about all this new approach duc -- production, none of if is being done on public land, it's all being done on private land. in 2008 when you were a senator, you refused to vote for any new offshore drilling. in fact, you had a conversation with leader mitch mcconnell at that time where you objected to allow any new drilling on americans' outer continental shelf, even if gas prices reached $10 a gallon. well, you're halfway threre. halfway there. the question is is this the direction that this department is going and are we at some point believing under your leadership that gasoline prices? >> senator heller, let me first say that i think that exchange on the floor of the u.s. senate, like the exchange that you're engaged in, is part of the phony can debate with bumper sticker solutions is one of the must fundal i

ms. murkowski made comment to the production of natural g public lands that ed waters, in fiscal year 2011 dropped 11%, and the previous year, from the previous year. according to the interior data, also oil production on public lands has dipped nearly 14% and so as the administration talks about all this new production, none of it's being done on public lands, it's always being done on private land. in 2008, when you were a senator, you refused to vote for any new offshore drilling. in fact you had a conversation with leader mitch mcconnell where youo awlog any new drilling on america's outer continental shelf even if gas prices reached $10 a gallon. well you're half way there, half way there. the question i guess we need to ask ourselves this the direction that this department is going and are we at some point in your, under your leadership leading gas to get to $10 a gallon? >> this is part of the phony debate with bumper sticker solutions to one of the most fundamental issues fixing the united states of america. >> so -- >> let me finish. when you speak to the statistic of what happene

ms. murkowski: thank you. mr. president. i request proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. murkowski: thank you. mr. president. i come to speak about cybersecurity legislation that we hope will be before the senate soon. there is no question, no question at all that this is a critical issue that should be addressed by this congress, and i'm certain that every member of this body is concerned that our nation may be vulnerable to cyberattacks that could have a very severe economic and truly security ramifications. we see stories about cyberattacks daily, whether they are attacks on individuals, on companies, on government. and i believe that it's time for us to take steps to protect ourselves against this emerging threat. in the coming weeks the senate is expected to take up legislation to address this very real problem, and i'm hopeful that this effort will result in legislation that we can all agree is worthy of sending to the president. but right now it appears that

ms. murkowski: thank you, mr. president. what a good discussion on the floor today. i will join with my colleague from california in urging that the house also move on the transportation bill. but that's not what i'm rising here this afternoon. i would like to speak on the legislation that is before us. this is the menendez proposal to raise taxes, raise taxes on american energy companies and inning inevitably prices to american consumers. it has been described as something else, but i would suggest to you that any effort to increase the taxes on -- on the energy companies that are providing a resource so us is -- is nothing more than a tax on our energy companies. and as we tax those energy companies, it's sure not going to make them produce things that are more affordable, moribund not. in fact, it will -- more abundant. in fact, it will have the negative result, it will impact prices negatively to american consumers. this legislation we have before us, this is not a new idea. this is something we have seen before. i think

ms. murkowski: and would suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: a senator: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from new mexico. mr. bingaman: i'd ask the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. bingaman: i have 10 unanimous consent requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they've been approved by the majority and the minority leaders. i'd ask unanimous consent these requests be agreed to and that these requests be printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. bingaman: madam president, a week or so ago i came to the floor to talk about the general issues of gasoline prices and domestic energy production. i believe it's important for us to use accurate facts as we are talking about our energy challenges, and we work on energy policy issues. only by using actual facts can we identify policies that will hopefully bring down the price of gas over time. the price of gasoline at the pu

ms. murkowski: thank you, madam president. i appreciate the courtesy of my colleague from illinois, and i also will follow on senator boxer's comments in the importance of this the highway transportation bill. i think we recognize that while far from being perfect durnl a not convinced that we develop any perfect legislation around here -- it is an extraordinarily good-faith effort, a very strong bipartisan demonstration in this body, deserved to have this support. i applaud her and senator inhofe for their work on that. mrs. boxer: thank you. ms. murkowski: madam president, just very briefly, i wanted to take a few minutes this morning to speak about an event that just happened outside on the lawn of the capitol here about maybe 50 or 60 alaskans and want-to-be alaskans gathered in a rally, a march that we have entitled "choose respect." and this is an effort that has stemmed from the actions of our governor in alaska to really shine the spotlight on domestic violence and sexual assault and to come together as communities, as

ms. murkowski: thank you, madam president. a lot of discussion about energy going on. the president spoke about it this morning. it's nice to hear us all saying the same thing, that this congress should have an all of the above energy policy. it's a phrase that i have used for years now and i suppose that it's the highest form of flattery to have that scooped up by others and carried, but i think it is important for us to remember that policies have to translate from mere words into actions. with the president's comments today, unfortunately, i am not convinced that he is intending to help turn our all of the above policy into reality. i think if he was really series about doing that, -- serious about doing that, he would have acknowledged that there is far more that our country can do to increase our supply when it comes to oil and oil production. i think he would admit that with oil prices that are above $100 a barrel, gasoline inching up every day, close to $4 a gallon, madam president, this is not a political opportunity for anyone. this is a legislative imperative

ms. murkowski: madam president, i am proud to be able to stand today to speak about the violence against women act in joining with some of my colleagues here on the floor. this is legislation that i have supported in the past and look forward to supporting again. as we talk about those issues that women care about, no surprise to most. we're talking about what's happening with the price of gas, what it costs to fill up the car tank. we're talking about the quality of our children's education. we're talking about the postal service in alaska. we had a military town hall. i met with some of the military spouses. and let me tell you, they were really quite concerned that some of the facilities that they access are -- are perhaps in jeopardy. we care about the security of our jobs, our spouses' jobs, our friends', our neighbors' jobs, all that goes into working in a small business. we certainly care about our country's fiscal situation and the very dire situation that we are in. but something else that we all care about is -- is the violence, the assaults that women often endure, their siste

ms. murkowski: thank you, madam president. i, too, stand today to pay recognition to a friend, a colleague, and truly a woman who brings a smile to my face because for as many years as she has served her state of maryland, for as many years as she as served in the halls of congress, she has the enthusiasm, the spontaneity, the excitement when she approaches an issue as a brand-new rookie freshman coming into -- into this body. and that's really quite remarkable. because around here, we can get kind of dragged down by the day-to-day, the politics, the partisan nature, the conflicts that are inherent in this process. but senator barbara mikulski is one who i think embraces life and embraces the responsibilities that are put before her and that that she has an opportunity to represent to her constituents, she embraces them with a enthusiasm that should be a reminder to us all of why we are here, to serve. i've got so many different stories and quips and quotes about senator mikulski whose name sounds somewhat familiar to mine, se

ms. murkowski: madam president, i am proud to be able to stand today to speak about the violence against women act in joining with some of my colleagues here on the floor. this is legislation that i have supported in the past and look forward to supporting again. as we talk about those issues that women care about, no surprise to most. we're talking about what's happening with the price of gas, what it costs to fill up the car tank. we're talking about the quality of our children's education. we're talking about the postal service in alaska. we had a military town hall. i met with some of the military spouses. and let me tell you, they were really quite concerned that some of the facilities that they access are -- are perhaps in jeopardy. we care about the security of our jobs, our spouses' jobs, our friends', our neighbors' jobs, all that goes into working in a small business. we certainly care about our country's fiscal situation and the very dire situation that we are in. but something else that we all care about is -- is the violence, the assaults that women often endure, their siste

ms. murkowski: mr. president, on roll call vote 29 i voted aye. it was my intention to vote no. i ask unanimous consent i be permitted to change the vote since it will not affect the outcome and it is for exactly the same reason that senator collins has mentioned. it was our understanding when coming to the floor that the modification had been accepted. it was not accepted. the presiding officer: without objection. the senator from california. mrs. boxer: i wanted to thank my colleagues. most of them have gone, bijust -- but i just feel this record reflect the last vote we had had. basically it was a vote to undo everything we worked so hard on all day. it basically was a back-door way of killing the transportation bill, a bill that is fiscally responsible. it's current levels plus inflation --, inflation, fully paid for. senator inhofe and i agreed at the outset if the e.p.w. committee we would only support a bill that was fully paid for. i'm honored we got so many republican votes on that. i understand the senator from michigan has something he wants to get accomplished by voi

ms. murkowski: madam president, i am proud to be able to stand today to speak about the violence againstwomen act in joining with some of my colleagues here on the floor. this is legislation that i have supported in the past and look forward to supporting again. as we talk about those issues that women care about, no surprise to most. we're talking about what's happening with the price of gas, what it costs to fill up the car tank. we're talking about the quality of our children's education. we're talking about the postal service in alaska. we had a military town hall. i met with some of the military spouses. and let me tell you, they were really quite concerned that some of the facilities that they access are -- are perhaps in jeopardy. we care about the security of our jobs, our spouses' jobs, our friends', our neighbors' jobs, all that goes into working in a small business. we certainly care about our country's fiscal situation and the very dire situation that we are in. but something else that we all care about is -- is the violence, the assaults that women often endure, their sister

ms. murkowski: thank you, madam president. i, too, stand today to pay recognition to a friend, a colleague, and truly a woman who brings a smile to my face because for as many years as she has served her state of maryland, for as many years as she as served in the halls of congress, she has the enthusiasm, the spontaneity, the excitement when she approaches an issue as a brand-new rookie freshman coming into -- into this body. and that's really quite remarkable. because around here, we can get kind of dragged down by the day-to-day, the politics, the partisan nature, the conflicts that are inherent in this process. but senator barbara mikulski is one who i think embraces life and embraces the responsibilities that are put before her and that that she has an opportunity to represent to her constituents, she embraces them with a enthusiasm that should be a reminder to us all of why we are here, to serve. i've got so many different stories and quips and quotes about senator mikulski whose name sounds somewhat familiar to mine, se

ms. murkowski made a comment to the production of natural gas on public lands that waters in fiscal yearfrom the previous year. according to the interior data water production on public lands is nearly 14%, and so as it ministries and talks about all this new production, none of it is being done on public lands. it's all being done on private land. in 2008, when you're a senator he refused to vote for any new offshore drilling. in fact you had a conversation with leader mitch mcconnell at that time where you objected to about any new drilling on america's outer continental shelf even if gas prices reach reached $10 a gallon. we are halfway there, halfway there. the question we need to ask ourselves is, is this the department -- directionless departments going and are we at some point believing that your leadership the gas prices will go to $10 a gallon? >> senator heller, let me first say that i think that exchange on the floor of the u.s. senate, they exchanged you were engaged in was part of the debate with bumper stickers solutions and was one of the most fundamental issues. let me fi

ms. rakowski made comments about the production of natural -- senator murkowski made mention of the production of natural gas. according to the interior data, also oil production on public lands is nearly 14%. as the administration talks about all of this new production, none of it is being done on public lands. it is being done on private land. in 2008, when you were a senator, you refused to voted for any offshore drilling. you had a conversation with mitch mcconnell at that time where you objected to allow any new drilling by americans outside the continental shelf even if gas prices reach $10 a gallon. we are halfway there. is this the direction this department is going? are we expecting gas prices to get to $10 a gallon? "washington journal >> -- >> senator, that exchange on the floor of the senate was part of the phony debate. when you speak to the statistics of what happened in 2011 in terms of production, you have to look at what was happening in the gulf of mexico. 30% of our domestic energy comes from the gulf of mexico. we went through a crisis in 2010. we are back. the rigs are bac