I salute your efforts on this bill. I think disclosure and disclaimers are a good idea.

I have been working for it ever since.

It will have a big impact on campaigns. It will have a big impact on Congress.

I appreciate Senator Durbin's efforts to reinvigorate what is left of our public financing system.

Even Ben Ginsberg, a long-time lawyer for Republican conservative causes, has warned of the consequences of this ruling.

we have to have public financing of elections if we are going to give citizens their opportunity to have a voice.

We have to break away from this model that we have for political campaigns which has created so much cynicism and so much distrust among the American voters.

Our Republican colleagues often complain about activist Federal judges. But in this case, this Supreme Court went out of its way to unleash the power of corporations in our politics.

Make no mistake about it. The Supreme Court's ruling also clears the way for the domestic subsidiaries... to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence our elections.

I want to commend your command for providing the initial support to the relief efforts in Haiti and your potential support to Chile.

I think it's more of that. If we can pay under the Office of Personnel Management all civilian employees under one payment system, why can't the military also exercise one payment system?

we're there to assist and not to take over or occupy a country, as some people are concerned about.

We can save millions and millions of taxpayers' dollars by combining those systems.

I say the policy needs to be changed, the policy must be changed, and we must have everyone who is capable, willing, and able to volunteer to defend this country.

What we need is a policy that allows any individual who has the integrity and the commitment to serve this country, to serve this country.

Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, please explain how the mission to provide defense support to civil authorities is addressed.

What particular programs address the Services' modernization and recapitalization?

Secretary McHugh and General Casey, will you meet the Grow the Army objectives that are part of achieving operational balance?