I am very pleased that the President has said good things about infrastructure, so I hastened to get a hold of his so-called skinny budget, and was very disappointed to see really unheard of cuts to popular transportation programs.

But I am concerned that the administration seems to be more enamored with pushing private capital and financing--which would end up making projects more expensive than traditional funding mechanisms.

Turkey would be a better ally of the United States if we had a government that came to terms with its history rather than one that tried to engage in genocide denial.

Thank you for considering my legislation, the Protect Veterans from Financial Fraud Act, which will ensure that our veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserved.

Mr. Cordray, thank you for your service. I want to associate myself with the ranking member's praise of you.

I think we need to continue down that path, because too often, the politics in the State capital around the DOT entities play a bigger part than good policy decisions.

This is the first time this has ever been done in a Federal transportation program.

I would suggest that we invite her to meet with all members of this committee, so we can have a collaborative effort and continue to be bipartisan in our effort to put forward transportation policy.

I just want to thank you for your leadership on this. You came out very publicly and said you are not going to vote for a CR that is for defense.

The government's use of a state of emergency to carry out a sweeping crackdown against anyone who dissents with his views is counter to democratic values.

The Turkish people are voting on whether they want to have a tough, strong, centralized power controlling their government.

Can you imagine a Congressman attending an ISIS leader's event and promoting the terrorist organization? So this is a big problem for Turkey. It is a national security risk.

I would hate to depend on Turkey in a crunch the way they have been moving the last few years.

I am greatly concerned by Erdogan's government's use of mass arrests of civil servants, critics, journalists, academics, and anyone he perceives as an opponent.

I look forward to today's testimony and to having an opportunity to discuss these issues in more detail.

Hopefully, the referendum will be held freely and fairly without undue influence.

I am deeply troubled by the actions of President Erdogan and his government following last year's coup and the implications these actions have on the future of democracy in Turkey.

the Turkish people care about their democracy.