The leaders of this Congress need to figure out a way to change this (legislation) to address the important civil liberties issues that I and other Senators from both sides of the aisle have discussed over the past three days.

We should not use special budget procedures to jam through legislation to drill in the Arctic Refuge. This topic is too important to the public to address it in such a back-door manner. We should be having a full, open discussion of the issue during an energy debate.

It's time for senators and members of Congress, especially those from my own party, to be less timid while this administration neglects urgent national security priorities in favor of staying a flawed policy course in Iraq. Let's see if we can remove the troops after we succeed with a series of steps by the end of December 2006.

As Congress debates franchise reform, it is imperative that our elected leaders adopt legislation that will lead to increased broadband development and investment. Consumers deserve choice, and only true competition can encourage the market forces that will bring about lower prices, better quality and more choices.

Congress should pass legislation to remove from the federal courts their jurisdiction to hear these outrageous challenges to the Ten Commandments and the Pledge of Allegiance.

In simple terms, we lobby Congress and the executive branch to educate and inform about the impact of legislation, executive actions and other public policy upon the manufacturing economy of this county.