I am grateful for the opportunity to be here today, and I would like to thank the witnesses for taking the time to share their insights with the subcommittee.

Thank you, Senator Mikulski, for chairing this important hearing on quality early education and care.

Just stunning when you think about that number.

That present policy has had an enormous toll on American lives and on American treasure.

I believe that we would be more successful in Afghanistan by reducing our troop presence in the south.

I certainly stand ready, and I'm sure all of us do, to be helpful to you as you take on this new assignment.

It was wrong then; I think it's wrong now.

I certainly share concerns about how those dollars are distributed.

I have total confidence that you'll be confirmed, and you should be confirmed because we need you there.

Sustainable stability.

I appreciate that. Thanks again for hosting this hour. Whether we're talking about addressing the deficit or whether we're talking about saving Medicare--frankly, both of those issues are intertwined--we've got to save the country, and…

I thank my good friend, Dr. Burgess from Texas, for yielding and also for being able to work with him in terms of our Congressional Health Care Caucus. We cover the health care industry from both important aspects--you as a physician and…

Mr. Speaker, this week the United States House sent a clear message to the White House that it's time to address our Nation's growing debt crisis and get serious with real budgetary reforms so that America can meet its budget and credit…

Even those exceeding what the estimates are that the bill would actually provide health care, an equal or double that amount may lose health care.

the dance the Department of Energy is doing that is thwarting that law, adding new standards that are not in the law, is also quite clear.

we see estimates that are not 9 million people will lose their benefits, but as many as 30 million, 40 million, 80 million.

It is not my intention to do away with government. It is, rather, to make it work--work with us, not over us, stand by our side, not ride our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it, foster opportunity and not…

According to the administration's own estimates, its regulations are going to force half of all employers, or as many as 80 percent of small businesses, to give up their coverage in the next 2 years.