ms. collins: madam president? the presiding officer: the other senator from maine. ms. collins: thank you, madam president. first, i want to congratulate my colleague from maine for an excellent amendment. as she indicated the postal service made a major miscalculation -- a mathematical error in the study that it did on the hamden processing center in our state. society senator snowe's amendment would say that if a proposed consolidation of a mail-processing center is appealed to the postal regulatory commission, the commission can be asked to review the underlying study's methodology and the estimated savings to make sure that it's correct because right now there's really no way to challenge a mistake that is made by the postal service in conducting these very important studies that are going to decide whether or not processing centers stay open. so i commend my colleague from maine for a very well-thought-out amendment a understand i urge its adoption by voice vote. the presiding officer: is there further debate? if not the question is on the amendment as modified. all

ms. collins? ms. of eight republicans to help repeal the military's don't ask, don't tell. >> ms. collins, ms. collins, aye. >> that is one of the two votes collins is proudest of. the other one is one she sponsored, a landmark 2004 intelligence reform bill that passed on a near unanimous vote. >> i think this is a day that reflects well on the senate for responding quickly and wisely to the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. >> collins' 5,000th vote thursday was on a motion to sets aside a proposal on tax cuts for small businesses. >> senators voting in the negative -- blunt, burr, collins, grassley -- >> after 15

ms. collins? ms. of eight republicans to help repeal the military's don't ask, don't tell. >> ms. collins, ms. collins, aye. >> that is one of the two votes collins is proudest of. the other one is one she sponsored, a landmark 2004 intelligence reform bill that passed on a near unanimous vote. >> i think this is a day that reflects well on the senate for responding quickly and wisely to the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. >> collins' 5,000th vote thursday was on a motion to sets aside a proposal on tax cuts for small businesses. >> senators voting in the negative -- blunt, burr, collins, grassley -- >> after 15 1/2 years, the junior senator from maine still voting strong. be sure to join us next sunday when "state of the union" will air highlights of the debate i'll be moderating between the virginia senate candidates. republican george allen and democrat tim kaine. until then, thanks for watching "state of the union." i'm candy crowley in washington. head to cnn.com/sotu for analysis and web

ms. collins: mr. president? the presiding officer: the snr from maine. ms. collins: mr. president, first of all, let me make the point to the senator from california, i'm a cosponsor of the stock act. i cosponsored senator brown's bill, so it is not as if i don't think that legislation is needed in this area. i am a cosponsor of this bill and have commended him for his work on this. but the fact remains that in our committee markup, the bill was changed. i know the senator was distracted when i answered that question. the bill was changed to extend to the executive branch in committee. it's in the bill that's before us now. so the senator was misinformed in that regard. the bill was changed to make very clear that the insider trader -- insider trading prohibition applied to the executive branch and that executive branch members have a duty to their agencies, the government. we make that explicit. that was changed in committee. so the senator is not correct that the bill that was brought to the floor only applied to congress. it does not. it applies to the executive branc

ms. collins: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: we will make our speeches after the vote. the presiding officer: very well. ms. collins: i thank my colleagues. the presiding officer: the question occurs on the passage of the bill. as amended. is there a sufficient second? there is. the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote: vote: votevote: the presiding officer: are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or to change their vote? seeing none, on senate bill 2038, as amended, the yeas are 96, the nays are 3. the bill is passed. mr. hatch: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from utah. mr. hatch: madam president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. hatch: i would ask unanimous consent that i be permitted to deliver my full speech regardless of the time. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. hatch: i thank you, madam president. madam president

ms. collins: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that proceedings under the call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. collins: thank you, madam president. madam president, i thought i would bring our colleagues up to date on what is going on since the evening is getting late. we are close, i believe, to working out an agreement for a vote on an amendment that was offered by senator paul earlier. it has to do with extending to executive branch officials these same kinds of reporting requirements and ban on insider trading that would apply to members of congress and their staff. it's an amendment that enjoys the support of both of the managers and the principal authors of this bill. what we're trying to do is to make sure, however, that we narrow the amendment so that it applies to top-level federal employees and not to low-level federal employees who have no policy responsibilities. so we were looking at limiting it to senate confirmed positions. the problem

ms. collins: mr. president, i would suggest the absence of a quorum, but i will be responding. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: ms. collins: mr. president? the presiding officer: the chair recognizes the senator from maine. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. i ask unanimous consent that proceedings under the call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, let me start by responding to the ranking member of the budget committee by saying that i could not agree with him more that it is absolutely unacceptable that we have not had a budget pass in the senate for more than 1,000 days. that is totally unacceptable. it's one of the reasons that we are in such a financial crisis in this country. so, i completely agree with senator sessions that we should be doing a budget resolution on the senate floor. and i wholeheartedly agree with his comments that it is absolutely irresponsible for us

ms. collins: thank you. the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: mr. president, i would then ask unanimous consent that we proceed with amendments so that we do alternate from side to side since there are a number of amendments that have been filed, and i think that would be the fairest way to proceed to make them pending. the presiding officer: is there objection? hearing none, so ordered. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from pennsylvania. mr. toomey: i ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendments. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. toomey: i ask unanimous consent to call up amendment 1472, my amendment with senator mccaskill. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: the senator from pennsylvania, mr. toomey, for himself and others, proposes amendment numbered 1472. mr. toomey: i ask unanimous consent we dispense with the reading. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. toomey: mr. president, i'd like to make some comments about this amendment, but i will do it at a later time

ms. collins is recognized for 25 minutes. >> thank you mr. chair. last august the house, the senate passed the budget control act and president obama signed it. it wasn't an ideal solution but it share the burden of deficit. defense spending tickets necessary sheriff cuts are going fortunately, the version we marked up today changes the rules of sequester. it chooses military hardware over american seniors. right here. pentagon triumphs over property program. latest cuts frame long-term budget choices, budget choices while the choice was wrong. what i'm doing here with this amendment will protect access to vital health care services, for seniors and people with disabilities. it will ensure that physicians, nurses, home health care aides, hospitals, clinics and many other health care professionals will be able to continue to provide critical services to these vulnerable populations. they pay for -- to pay for -- excuse me, took pay for preventing the sequester cuts to medicare for one when you come my amendment closes wasteful unnecessary tax breaks

ms. collins: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that proceedings under the quorum be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. collins: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that peter halverson, the military fellow from the department of navy, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of consideration of the defense authorization bill. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. collins: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that senator demint be added as a cosposh of the feinstein-collins amendment number 3018. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, i rise to speak in support of the amendment offered by senator feinstein. the purpose of our amendment is to make clear that a united states citizen or a legal, permanent resident arrested in this country cannot be detained indefinitely without charge or trial. this amendment is necessary beca

collins: ms. hochul consistently mistakes my position. we need a short-term solution at least a we continue this. there's no way in the next six weeks after the election the farm bill is going to be passed when the sequestration and other things but what i'm saying is let's get something so there's something moving forward into next year in the new congress let's get it done for five years. we need the five year deal but we need something which we can have by december 31. and as a member of congress in the majority after the beginning of the year, there's a big difference for the viewers should understand, as your congressman i will be in the majority come in the room where decisions are made. ms. hochul is an ineffective in a row primarily because she's not in the room where decisions are being made. ladies and gentlemen, that is a huge difference. >> is there at all a problem with the spending bill as it is currently designed? collins: with the farm bill rex spring summer public is at issue -- t

ms. collin s received her law degree and it is good to have you here. please go ahead. mr. chairman, thank you for protecting the voting rights of all americans. restrongly support the act of 2011. we want to thank senator laheyy as well as senator schumer since 2005. i want to focus on why current final and state laws are in sufficient. and as well as how this bill addresses actual and documented fraud against voters. during the question and answers i'm happy to respond to questions and actions. as previously stated, it intentional intentionally disseminates information. as

ms. collins in district 6. ms. edellman who i don't know as well but was impressed by your application.i also love to throw mr. stuart smith on there, someone was also very active and has done a lot of outreach to garner support. and i do actually appreciate that level of enthusiasm in wanting to serve as well. so i will also add his name. also would like to add larry saxxon, someone who i don't know, but i've heard a lot about through other individuals, and was very impressed by your presentation today as well. i do want to give opportunity to other committee members, if -- we have 15 slots. >> i do -- will certainly be in agreement with that. michael costa is subpoena tha cd love to see on this committee. do you want to start with a motion? >> it would make sense to get to 15 and then make a motion but i certainly agree with all of the recommendations that were made. i think stu smith, very impressive presentation and the level of support from the community as well as larry saxxon, michael costa. i think he probably will play the role of the policy wonk and i think that's something yo

ms. collins: again, thank you, mr. president, and i want to thank the chairman for his extraordinary work on this very important project. thank you. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from west virginia is recognized. mr. manchin: thank you, mr. president. i want to first of all thank both of my colleagues for their diligent work. they have committed themselves to this work and i appreciate it and they keep us all informed. mr. president, i rise today frustrated, embarrassed and angry. it is absolutely inexcusable that all of us find ourselves in this place at this time, standing on the floor of the senate in front of the american people hours before we plunge off the fiscal cliff. with no plan and no apparent hope. but here we are and we have got to do something. if we're as determined to go over the cliff as we seem, we've got to do something to soften the landing because at the bottom of the fiscal cliff, our our -- are immediate and massive tax increases, deep and indiscriminate spending c

ms. collins: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, i'm very pleased to join with the chairman of the homeland security committee in urging all of our colleagues to cast a vote for cloture on the motion to proceed to this vitally important bill. mr. president, there are many different views on how to save the postal service but there can be no doubt that the postal service is in crisis. we are at a critical juncture. without passing legislation, the postal service will simply be unable to meet its payroll perhaps as soon as this fall. we simply cannot allow that to happen. the postal service is vital to our economy. it is the linchpin of a trillion-dollar mailing industry that employs nearly 8.7 million americans in fields as diverse as printing, catalog companies, paper manufacturing, newspaper and magazine publishers. these industries and the jobs that they sustain are in jeopardy. if we fail to act, we will deliver a critical, crippling blow to the postal service. as senator lieberman has indicated, the pos

ms. collins: thank you. i believe that the sponsor of this amendment is completely sincere, and i want to make that clear. but this issue has become a sad example of election year politics. i believe that a good compromise could have been reached -- and should have been worked out. for example, in maine, state law requiring contraception coverage includes a specific exemption for religious employers, such as churches, schools, and hospitals. surely we could have reached a similar accommodation. and, unfortunately, what we're left with is an issue that's important and that too many people, including this administration, are playing politics with. since i could not and did not receive a straightforward answer to my question about protecting self-insured faith-based organizations, i feel that i have to vote for senator blunt's amendment, with the hope that its scope will be further narrowed and refined as the legislative process proceeds and recognizing that state laws will not be preempted. i do this with -- w

ms. collins: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: that is very kind of the senator from west virginia. my statement is quite lengthy, so if the senator from west virginia, in light of his commitment, would like to precede me, i would be more than happy to have him do so. so i would encourage him to go ahead and then the senator from connecticut has graciously said that he would allow me to go next. thank you, mr. president. we're all so nice around here. [laughter] mr. rockefeller: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from west virginia. mr. rockefeller: i wish all negotiations proceeded with such comity. for those of us who've lived long enough, we have seen, obviously, enormous transition and we're in a totally new age. today, as we begin our debate, over 200 billion e-mails will be sent around the world to every continent. google, a company that is really just ten years old, will process over a billion searches and stream more than 2 billion videos today. and in the next minute, about 36,000 tweets will be pos

ms. collins in district 6. ms. edellman who i don't know as well but was impressed by your application.also love to throw mr. stuart smith on there, someone was also very active and has done a lot of outreach to garner support. and i do actually appreciate that level of enthusiasm in wanting to serve as well. so i will also add his name. also would like to add larry saxxon, someone who i don't know, but i've heard a lot about through other individuals, and was very impressed by your presentation today as well. i do want to give opportunity to other committee members, if -- we have 15 slots. >> i do -- will certainly be in agreement with that. michael costa is subpoena

ms. collins: thank you, madam president. before my friend and colleague from maryland leaves the floor, i want to thank her for her passionate advocacy on behalf of her constituents. i have a similar problem in my home state of maine where a processing center has been targeted for closure that would have an extraordinarily detrimental impact on mail delivery for two-thirds of the state of maine. it makes no sense whatsoever, and it would do away with overnight delivery just as the senator has indicated. i would encourage her to continue to work with us and also to look at the specific provisions that we put into the substitute that reflects the input that we have had from her and many other concerned senators, and one of those standards deals with the overnight delivery and the need to maintain that service of standard -- that standard of service. this is an advantage that the postal service has and it helps it keep customers, so to do away with overnight delivery, in my view, would be foolhardy and it would actually cause m

ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, later this morning we will vote on whether or not to invoke cloture on a major cybersecurity bill. in the past three days we have received letters from general keith alexander, who is the head of cyber command, as well as the chief of the national security agency; from the secretary of homeland security; and from the joint -- chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, urging us to act immediately on this important legislation. let me just read briefly from all three of these letters. general alexander said the following: "i'm writing to express my strong support for passage of a comprehensive bipartisan cybersecurity bill by the senate this week. the cyber threat facing the nation is real and demands immediate action. the time to act is now. we simply cannot afford further delay." that's what general alexander has told us. secretary napolitano wrote to us: "i'm writing to express my strong support for s. 3414, the cybersecurity act of 2012. i can think of no more pressing legis

ms. collins: thank you. and let me just conclude my remarks by thanking senator alexander and senator pryor for initiating this colloquy tonight. this is a way that we can come together and america will be better for it. thank you, madam president. mr. alexander: madam president, i see senator warner, the senator from virginia, has arrived, who with senator pryor, has been very active over the last several months in working across party lines to try to make the senate function more effectively. and i would leave it to senator pryor as to what comes next. mr. pryor: if it is agreeable with the senator from tenton, i would like to ask the senator from virginia to say just a few words. we understand he has a pressing engagement. i don't think it gets anymore pressing than when it is your wife's burnlg day, so he would like to -- when it is your wife's birthday, so he would like to say a few words, so if that's permissible with the snoer from tennessee. mr. warner: i appreciate the courtesy of the senator from a

ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, if this amendment is not adopted and the current regulations go into effect, the estimates are that they will cost manufacturers $14 billion to comply and that we will lose 200,000 manufacturing jobs at a time when we can least afford it. all we're asking is for more time to get these regulations right. i yield back the remainder of the time and urge support for the amendment. the presiding officer: the senator from california. mrs. boxer: mr. president, could we have order. the presiding officer: the senator from california. mrs. boxer: colleagues, what we do here makes a difference in people's lives cht and we have peer-reviewed studies that show that if the collins amendment passes and we go back to square one, we will see 8,100 premature deaths per year, 5,100 heart attacks per year, and talk about jobs -- 400,000 lost workdays per year. why is it? because what the e.p.a. is trying to do under the clean air act is make sure we don't have too much arsenic in the air, mak

ms. collins: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: mr. president, i would suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

ms. collins: thank you. the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: thank you, madam president. first, let me thank the senator from delaware for his graciousness. in light of the fact that there are so many people who are waiting to speak, i will be brief, but i want to talk about the legislation that is before us, the cybersecurity bill. madam president, this bill represents the senate's best chance this year to pass urgently needed cybersecurity legislation. now, why do i say that it's urgent? virtually every national and homeland security expert from president bush's administration including president obama's administration has warned us repeatedly that a cyber attack is coming, and it is an attack that's going to be aimed at our critical infrastructure. and, madam president, for us to let disagreements over exactly how to counter this threat prevent the passage of this bill would be a tragedy and could lead to a tragedy. this is serious. just yesterday, we had a meeting with the f.b.i., with the department of homeland security, with gener

ms. collins: mr. president, earlier today i voted against invoking cloture on the motion to proceed to a six-month spending bill, a stopgap measure. and i want to explain to my colleagues and my constituents why i voted that way. i am deeply disappointed that the senate has been unable to complete the annual appropriations bills on time before the start of the new fiscal year. this is a failure that only reinforces the public's perception of gridlock in washington. mr. president, it's not as if the start of a fiscal year is a surprise to members of this body. it happens every year on october 1. we know that the spending authority is going to run out and we know that one of the most important responsibilities of the congress is to pass the appropriations bills. well, the house of representatives has managed to pass seven of the 12 annual spending bills. the senate majority leader regrettably has not brought a single regulation appropriations bill to the senate floor for consideration. it's important to

ms. collins: mr., to me, this illustrates the confusion over this issue, so i'm pleased that the committee not only reported senator brown's bill, but unanimously adopted an amendment that i offered with chairman lieberman that states clearly that members and their staff are not exempt from insider trading laws. the need for this unambiguous statement can likely be traced back to the nature of the insider trading laws. as our committee has learned, our nation's insider it trading laws are not, generally speaking, based on statutes passed by congress, but rather on court precedents. as one of our witnesses, a law professor from indiana university, pointed out during our hearing, congress has never enacted a federal securities statute that explicitly prohibits anyone from insider trading. that explicit statutory ban on insider trading is entirely absent in u.s. securities law. rather, mr. president, the s.e.c. pursues insider trading cases under the general antifraud provisions of the federal securities

ms. collins: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine is recognized. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, many of our colleagues will be leaving us at the i understand o end of this . and i wish to take time this morning to pay tribute to some of my colleagues, particularly those with whom i've worked most closely. and, of course, i must start with my colleague and friend from maine, olympia snowe. mr. president, in ancient sparta, there was a saying that roughly translated as this: "it seems all the world knows what is the right thing to do, but it is only the spartans who will do anything about it." as my friend, colleague, and senior senator from maine olympia snowe tends he ends here in the senate, i rise to pay tribute to this decendant of that legendary civilization. olympia is a true leader who has always devoted her considerable intellect, energy and commitment to doing what was right for maine and for america. olympia snowe has dedicated her life to public service. 18 years in the united states senate preceded by 16 representing ma

ms. collins: mr. president, i call up my amendment, number 1660, which is at the desk and ask that it be reported by number. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: the senator from maine, ms. collins force herself and others proposes answer amendment numbered 1660. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, i rise today to offer the regulatory relief act which is amendment 1660 to the highway reauthorization bill. i'm very pleased to have senator alexander, senator pryor, senator toomey, senator landrieu, and senator mccaskill joining me as cosponsors of this amendment. mr. president, last year i introduced the legislation very similar to this amendment to provide the e.p.a. with the time that the agency itself says that it needed to rewrite the proposed boiler mact rules, to better serve the public interest and protect vulnerable manufacturing jobs. the legislation had the support of 41 of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and an identical bill, nearly identical b

ms. collins: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: mr. president, i know of no other speakers who plan to come to the floor before we are scheduled under the previous order to recess at 12:30, so i would suggest that we might want to move up the recess time by a couple of moments. the presiding officer: good suggestion. under the previous order, the senate will stand recessed until >> i have an alarming thought about all of this. in some ways the discussion about cyber mirrors a bit the discussion we used to have about terrorism back in the '80s and the '90s. there was a great deal of difficulty coming to a national consensus about what to do about it until we had 9/11 which then crystalized everything and we knew what to do and the nation moved forward. we haven't had that kind of event in cyber yet. we imagine it. we talk about it. the attack on zappos. the attack on stratforewhere i lost my credit card. the only good thing i think a few more of those there will

ms. collins: mr.itted to proceed for up to 20 minutes. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, the majority leader has indicated that the senate may soon turn to legislation to reform a much-needed, much-beloved american institution: the united states postal service. mr. president, the postal service is nearly as old as our nation itself. our founding fathers recognized the importance of having a postal service. article 1, section 8, of the constitution gives congress the power to establish post offices. this is the same section that allows congress to declare war, to coin money, to borrow money on the credit of the united states, to collect taxes, et cetera. so, clearly, the post office was viewed from the very beginning of our nation as being essential to our economic well-being and to bringing together our country. the postal service is also required by law to provide as nearly as practicable the entire population of the united states with ade

ms. collins: mr. president, though we have different views on this issue, i would yield -- how much time do you -- i would yield one minute to the senator from alex -- from arizona, senator mccain. mr. mccain: mr. president, i would like to express my appreciation for senator lieberman and senator collins' hard work on this. we have had some disagreements. i still believe that if we could have, say, five amendments that could be voted on and debated, i think we could move forward with this bill. i really believe that. and i would like to see if possibly even after -- right after this vote if we could reach some agreement between the leaders and ourselves that we could say that there would be five pending amendments and perhaps we could go ahead and debate and vote on those. i, again, think we have some very significant differences, but i -- the fact that the chairman and the two cochair -- whatever the hell they call themselves -- have worked incredibly hard on this issue, and they deserve debate, and

ms. collins: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, i would ask unanimous consent that i be permitted to speak for up to 30 minutes. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. very patient of you, mr. president. mr. president, today the senate begins debate on reform legislation to save an american institution -- the united states postal service. our founding fathers recognized the importance of having a postal service. article 1, section 8, of the constitution gives congress the power to establish post offices. the postal service is also required by law to provide the entire population of the united states with adequate and efficient postal services at a fair and reasonable rate. this is called the universal mandate, and it ensures that the postal service cannot leave behind rural states and small towns. the postal service, which has delivered news to generation after generation of americans, is at great risk of not being able to make its payroll by this fall, according t

ms. collins: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that i be permitted to proceed as if in morning business for up to 15 minutes. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, during the past week, the supreme court heard arguments on the constitutionality of president obama's health care law. this week also marks the two-year anniversary of the president's signing that law. now, mr. president, there is no question that our health care system required and still requires significant reform. in passing this law, however, congress failed to follow the hippocratic oath of first do no harm. the new law increases health care costs, hurts our seniors and health care providers and imposes billions of dollars in new taxes, fees and senlts. this in turn will lead to fewer choices and higher insurance costs for many middle-income american families and most small businesses. the opposite of what real health care reform should do. i find it particularly disturbing

ms. collins: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: mr. president, when i talk to employers in my state about what washington could do to get people back to work, they inevitably point to the flood of excessive regulation as a major barrier. many of us have offered proposals to reform the regulatory process. even the president's own jobs council has put forth ideas like strengthening the cost-benefit analysis. this just makes common sense. but regrettably, the senate has failed to act. meanwhile, the burden of federal regulation grows ever larger. right now, federal agencies are at work on 2,700 new rules. these rules will go on top of a pile of regulations measuring millions of pages. mr. president, if we want to put people back to work, we have to cut the red tape that is strangling our job creators. the presiding officer: the senator from arkansas. mr. boozman: thank you, mr. president. if you look at any objective measurement, whether it's unemployment numbers, gas prices, middle-class income, college tuition, manufacturing production,

ms. collins: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collinsms. collins: thank y, madam president. i just want to rise very brief briefly. i know there are a number of members who are seeking recognition. to thank my friend and colleague from illinois for his statement today. he has worked very hard on this bill. i know it is an issue that he cares deeply about and i very much appreciate his taking the time to come to the floor and to urge members to vote for the motion to proceed to the debate on this absolutely vital legislation. madam president, i must say that i was disappointed to hear some of the comments that were made on the senate floor today in opposition to this bill. the fact is that both republican and democratic officials have, with very few exceptions, endorsed the framework of this bill and urged us to move forward. in fact, they have warned us repeatedly that the only question is when a major cyber attack will occur, not whether it will occur but when it will occur. we have letter after letter, statement after statement from nation

collins: ms. hochul, under federal election law there's nothing that calls for personal financial disclosure which both of us felt that the issues both you and your husband are sector millions. i fully filled out those forms in full compliance. and i went a step further but i three years of my tax returns. it was published that take 30% of my income in taxes. i have no loopholes. i've no for an account. it's my small businesses where i make my money. you make your money working for the government are doing your money -- you and your husband make almost three and $50,000 a year. my income is earned by having companies that employ workers in this a. i think the bigger question is, you've got something hidden in your to secret family trusts that you won't disclose and you haven't disclosed. so ms. hochul, ladies and those to secret family trusts ask because i've a feeling they may be something you don't want the voters to know. hochul: you've got to be kidding me. give it a pretty big you're the one

ms. collins:? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president.et me first begin my remarks by commending my friend and colleague from minnesota, senator klobuchar, for leading the way on this very important bill. there are so many issues that divide us in this chamber, mr. president. surely this is an issue that should unite us. it's not a democratic issue. it's not a republican issue. it's an issue of serious consequences to the american people and to our health care system. and i would hope -- and the reason that senator klobuchar and i have come to the floor today, i would hope that we can act immediately to pass our bill, get it through the house and send it to the president. mr. president, physicians, pharmacists and patients throughout the country are struggling to cope with a surge in shortages of needed drugs that is causing significant disruptions in health care and putting patients at risk. i share with my colleague from minnesota, her concern about this critically important problem. according to the u.s. food and drug administration, t

ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, let me start by responding to the ranking member of the budget committee by saying that i could not agree with him more that it is absolutely unacceptable that we have not had a budget pass in the senate for more than 1,000 days. that is totally unacceptable. it's one of the reasons that we are in such a financial crisis in this country. so, i completely agree with senator sessions that we should be doing a budget resolution on the senate floor. and i wholeheartedly agree with his comments that it is absolutely irresponsible for us to be proceeding without a budget resolution. and as a member of the appropriations committee, i would say to my colleagues that it makes it very difficult for us to carry out our work due to the cooperation of the chairman and ranking member of that committee. we are operating under allocations for each subcommittee. but it would be far, far preferable if there were a budget resolution that passed, and it should have passed last year, the year b

ms. collins? are you ready? does the clerk of the amendment at the desk since it got shuffled want to make sure that it is actually at the desk. amendment number 25 at the desk? >> offered by ms. mccaul one relating to public schools. >> recognized for two minutes. >> thank you. the average public school building is 40-years-old. conservative estimates of the school maintenance and appear nationwide that at at least $250 billion. this amendment increases funding to go towards repairs at $40 billion. this investment will allow for approximately 55,000 public-school to the improved triet in proved any way that will help offset an unfunded mandate that the federal government still hasn't lived up to as 88. many of our schools are still struggling to comply with the 88 compliance. we cannot expect the students come of our students to succeed utter infrastructure if it is failing them. to compete and succeed, we need high lead content of global economies, our students need state spaces in which to live that virtually

ms. collins, aye. >> okay. welcome back to "morning joe." >> what was that?60 minutes," though, whatever it was. >> that was washington at work. look how much they get done. did you see people just scurrying around and working and talking and debating? >> wholesome. >> yeah. you know what? because that's what happens in washington. that's gridlock. >> busy. they're busy. >> at work. >> i think there are more u.s. senators in the green room, by the way, getting ready to be on the show than were on the floor just now. >> washington at work or we got the wrong sound bite. i don't know. who knows? welcome back to "morning joe." we've got mike barnicle and richard haass still with us along with the emmy award winner, mark halperin in los angeles. halperin. and joining us on set, we have msnbc news political director and "the daily rundown," and former chairman of the republican national committee, michael steele. and from washington, columnist of "the washington post" and policy analyst ezra design. what a gro ezra klein. we were going to show you mitt romney on "

ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, i do rise today to introduce with the chairman of the homeland security committee, senator lieberman, as well as senator rockefeller and senator feinstein, the cybersecurity act of 2012. as always, it's been a great pleasure to work with my friend and colleague from connecticut on which i believe is the most important initiative that we have come together on. perhaps since our 2004 intelligence reform and terrorism prevention act. i'm also delighted that three senate chairmen who have significant jurisdiction in this area -- senator lieberman, senator rockefeller and senator feinstein -- have come together, we have all worked very hard on this bill. i also want to commend the staff of our committee which has worked extraordinarily hard over several years to produce this bill. our legislation would provide the federal government and the private sector with the tools necessary to protect our most critical infrastructure from growing cyber threats. earlier this month, the f.b.

ms. caitlin durkovich. dr. robert rosenwasser. dr. deborah august. mr. timothy gill. miller.t mr. bradford collins. ms. barbara walsh. mr.mark alderman. mrs. sue ellen alderman. >> [inaudible] [inaudible] the honorable neal wolin. ms. nicole elkon. [inaudible] [inaudible] the honorable alan krueger. mrs. lisa krueger. mrs leilani brown. mr. stanton brown. mr. don hinkle. ms. mimi graham. ms. debra lee. mr. londell mcmillan. ms. gwen ifill. mr. wendell pierce. ms. gillian tett. mr. richard philip mcgregor. [inaudible] mr. james macgilvray. mrs. janet macgilvray. ms. elizabeth lee mcgovern. mr. simon adam curtis. >> [inaudible] da men [inaudible] >> paul tash. mrs. karyn tash. n.. jim corw mrs. paulamr. simon wilson. mrs. wilson. [unintelligible] mr. stewart taylor ii mrs. ivan taylor. >> hi, how are you? >> i am very excited. >> mr. stephen gilbert. mr. oliver dowden mrs. lauren mann. mrs. smalls. mr. samuel hines. mrs. stacy mills. mrs. denise lewis. >> i am delighted to be here. [inaudible] i cannot begin to put it into words. i am filled with anticipation. [inaudible] i do not think so. the challenge is on. >> the hono