"Foreclosure should be servicer's last resort, not its preferred outcome."
"I want to thank all of our witnesses for appearing today."
"Some of the credit for this work, I want to tell you, is due to Senator Voinovich's sustained focus on the issue."
"At the end of fiscal year 2010, the Social Security Administration (SSA) had a backlog of almost 850,000 initial claims."
"thanks to the Recovery Act and increased funding, your agency was able to hire thousands of new employees."
"It would put ALJs on equal footing with other senior-level Federal employees and would be a valuable tool for recruiting talented attorneys from the private sector to government service."
"I commend Director Berry for doing that because I think it is a step in the right direction."
"Aloha and good morning. Let me tell you what I meant when I said, 'Aloha' and begin by saying we share such a deep Aloha between Senator Voinovich and me."
"Over the past years, Social Security disability claims have risen across the Nation."
"I think that we can do better."
"You also testified that measuring the work output of each work unit would help SSA more accurately measure productivity and direct its resources."
"I think it is very important for the Congress to keep an eye on that so it makes a very important choice to dedicate those resources to program integrity work when the paradigm shifts."
"I would like to be more specific and ask you to describe how SSA is handling the challenge of training."
"Average Ohioans must wait 479 days for their disability claims to be processed."
"I have learned a great deal about the challenges facing the Social Security Administration, particularly in the area of furloughs and the need for increased resources."
"There is no easy path, no simple answer, and no short-cut solution to creating a strong IT capability at VA."
"As Chairman, it is my responsibility to make certain that this Committee fulfills its obligation to conduct oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs."
"Thank you Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Burr, and Members of this Committee for your continued support."
