ms. klobuchar: very good. i was talking about the fishing and hunting industry and how important it is to the state of minnesota and how in fact every year nearly two million people fish our lakes and streams, and close to 700,000 people hunt our fields and forests. nationwide, the hunting and fishing industry is valued at $95.5 billion a year and it brings in $14 billion in revenue. clean water is a fundamental pillar in supporting this economic sector and to protecting people against dangerous toxins like mercury. minnesota has passed, as you know, mr. president, some of the most stringent mercury rules in the country. in 2006 our state legislature passed laws requiring our largest power plants to cut mercury emissions 90% by 2015. the federal government is finally catching up and will publish a requirement in the coming days to make similar reductions by 2016. yet, despite everything we've done to combat mercury pollution, we're still grappling with its consequences. a recent analysis of 25 years of data fo

ms. klobuchar: mr. president, recently i came to the floor of the senate to talk about the lack of faith that the american people have in the political system and in our government. my focus that day was on campaign finance laws and the impact of the citizens united decision by the supreme court two years ago. today i'm here to discuss along with my colleagues another dynamic of capitol hill that is making people lose faith in washington, the apparent inability of congress to get routine business done, specifically, the failure of the senate to fill the dozens of judicial vacancies that combis around the country. this doesn't need to be a partisan debate. i know senators on each side have their own reasons why it's the other party's fault but we need to put those arguments behind us and agree to do the people's business. we've actually done a good job as senator cardin has pointed out on the judiciary committee with having a number of judges that have come through that committee and are waiting approval

ms. klobuchar: mr. president, are we in morning business? are woo in a quorum call -- are we in a quorum call? i ask that the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. klobuchar: mr. president, i rise today to join my colleagues in opposition to the amendment offered by senator blunt. it is discouraging that when we should be having a debate on our nation's infrastructure and surface transportation needs, we are instead talking about women's health and contraception. as the senator from california noted earlier, my state is a state that understands the importance of upgrading our infrastructure and investing in surface transportation. i live just a few blocks from the bridge that collapsed in the middle of that river on that sunny day in minnesota, eight-lane highway in the middle of the mississippi river. so we understand the importance of investment in infrastructure, and that's what we should be focusing on in this bill. instead we have taken a different turn. now i under

ms. klobuchar: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from minnesota. ms. klobuchar: i'm on the floor to discuss something that has been a top priority for me in the senate, that is the critical need to get serious about building a new energy agenda for america, one that keeps our businesses competitive in the global economy, preserves our environment and restarts the engine that has always kept our country moving forward, that is innovation. i'm specifically focused on the energy tax extenders, those that are so necessary for us to keep going if the area of homegrown and renewable energy. we all know that there is no solution, single solution for getting us here. but we do -- what we do need is not a silver bullet. we need a silver buckshot as we like to say in minnesota. with many of my colleagues, i've talked about the need to continue developing alternative resources such as hydro, biofuel, solar, wind and we've also talked about how we need to continue developing existing technologies, like domestic oil and gas production while enforcing appropriate saf