I think it's very important.

Several of us were in Syria, in Damascus, and we visited the refugee centers and met with the Iraqi refugees that are in Syria.

I appreciate it. I just would observe that their cooperation has been inconsistent over the years.

We're very proud of the work that you have done on behalf of our country.

I just urge this administration to try to get a conclusion to these war crimes and get these individuals who are indicted over to The Hague.

The American people rightfully expect that when it comes to our national security members of this committee and officials in the Pentagon will keep them informed of the threats we face and what we are doing to prepare for those threats.

I think he has the package needed, at this time, for our country.

We now need to make sure that there's accountability.

I'm going to confess to you that I'm not objective when it comes to John Porcari--he's a friend.

I want to compliment the President on all three of the nominees that he has sent forward that are being considered today by this Committee.

I concur with Senator Mikulski--this is a contribution being made by the people of Maryland.

I look forward to working with you, and the people who will be confirmed.

But it is a sad day for Maryland if we--as we lose him to be our Secretary of Transportation.

I think President Obama has made a great choice, and we enthusiastically support him, and hope you do, as well.

He has my full support, because John will bring vision, new ideas, and actually juice to the excellent Transportation team President Obama is assembling.

I come today to join with my colleague, Senator Ben Cardin, to strongly recommend John Porcari to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

It's extremely pervasive in Maryland and in Baltimore. It's estimated that, in violent offenses, sometimes as much as 90 to 100 percent of the cases involve some type of witness intimidation.

And the fact is that in Baltimore, a person could be standing at a bus stop. There could be 20 people, somebody could come up, kill that -- kill one of the people. Everybody knows who did it. And nobody will tell. Nobody.