What we ought to approach this challenge with is the question, how are we going to protect America's insurance consumers.

Were I still the insurance commissioner, I would try, Mr. Chairman, but I am not sure I would be successful.

Yes, sir. It is called the Wind Risk.

The good news is that the insurance industry is clearly capable of taking care of the losses that occurred on September 11.

Neither can we allow the insurance industry to use the September attacks as an excuse to shirk its rightful role and responsibilities.

Mr. Chairman, I believe so. That question never came up because it was never a question of whether it was not to be covered.

Some of our most productive 'leap ahead' technologies have often been associated with space.

If that fight is in the future between Commerce and Defense, it would be my hope, with your background, your expertise, your stature, that as the chief foreign officer representing the United States that you would weigh in on that.

In the State Department now there is an office having to do with Holocaust assets retrieval.

I'm very pro-choice.

Well, look. I'm very pro-choice. I hate the concept of abortion. I hate it. I hate everything it stands for. I cringe when I listen to people debating the subject. But you still- I just believe in choice.

No, I am pro-choice in every respect and as far as it goes, but I just hate it.

While many may turn a blind eye to the reality that plagues the Cuban people, Amnesty International does not.

The prisoner of conscience Marta Beatriz Roque, who was sentenced by Castro's kangaroo courts earlier this year after languishing for close to 2 years in a squalid jail cell for exercising her human rights and civil liberties, was severely punished by the regime on July 16 for refusing to eat and staying mute in a silent protest for the unjust incarceration that she is subjected to.

A recent case is that of political activist and human rights dissidenter Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, who was arbitrarily arrested again on July 11 of this year solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

These examples of the Cuban dictatorship's cruelties are grave and numerous. Other countries may wish to ignore them. However, the U.S. Congress cannot and indeed we must not.

Luis Sabines has done a remarkable job promoting international trade and educating businesses, helping them to foster their growth.

Next year's Hemispheric Congress promises to continue the negotiations among American businesses, and to add on to the number of countries taking part in the negotiating, and promotion of trade between Latin American and the United States.