I think it is important to note that today marks the 1-year anniversary of the brutal killing of Agent Jaime Zapata and shooting of Agent Avila, and I think by the Los Zetas.

there is no question that the momentum of two subs a year... is achieving savings.

the strategy... clearly focuses on Asia-Pacific, and you can't have an effective strategy without a strong undersea fleet.

It cost about twice as much as was predicted; and, as Mr. Thornberry said, the net savings are still years away.

you very eloquently described the value of the industrial base to our national security.

The long-term effect in terms of the fleet size will be decades.

I served on the Readiness Subcommittee for the last 5 years.

I share your concern about the constitutional precedent that is being set here by a President seeking to violate the Constitution and appoint individuals while the United States Senate is in session.

I was a member of the conference committee that established the CFPB. And I think it is one of the most important actions this Congress has taken in many years.

We are having stealth tax increases, as Mr. Duncan noted, at the pump.

Washington loves to talk with flourishes, but generally calls for more bureaucracy as the answer to the problems.

What I would like to see the Department of the Interior do is say, 'We are going to open up the Bakken oil field in Montana on Federal lands, and allow more energy development.'

Are you or are you not going to increase the public lands available for hydraulic fracturing?

I think America is looking for us here in Congress, and also the Administration, to take the measures to reduce what they pay at the pump.

That has become a real passion of mine.

There is no more important issue to working Americans than the ability to get and keep a job, provide for their families, and ensure that when their children grow up, they can succeed, too.

I hope we work very closely, Mr. Secretary, and I agree with Mr. Reed's opening remarks about what direction we should be going in.

It certainly is a convoluted policy, Mr. Secretary, when you close jobs in the USA and bring them overseas, that the taxpayers provide the money to help you move.