I have been, along with many Members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, a strong champion for charter schools.

I am a strong supporter of high-performing public schools.

It is a proven model. So I am going to be pressing this budget to spend our money where it works, and stop spending money where it doesn't.

We should figure out how to get our troops over there, how to get our troops back, and then how to pay for the tail that goes long into next generations.

What was the original estimate of what this would cost?

The spent fuel standard would ensure the surplus plutonium can never be stolen or recovered and converted to nuclear weapons use by anyone at any time.

This is all the cost of war. This is paying for the cold war when we made these weapons.

And let me begin by thanking you for your extraordinary leadership all these years on this committee.

It was disappointing to see the level of charter school funding flat.

Well, I am not sure about that. But I want you to know that both Lloyd Doggett, who is a Democrat, by the way, and I agree that something needs to be done.

When are you going to do something about it? I would like to know what your plan is and when CMS will try to do the right thing.

Mr. McDermott, I agree with you. They refuse to do anything.

Well, when are you going to do that?

Does CMS support our bipartisan bill, H.R. 781, the Medicare Identify Theft Prevention Act of 2013? Yes or no?

Do you care about protecting seniors from identity theft?

The Service should not duplicate functions already conducted by the States.

It is essential that the Service make it crystal clear that it will honor the private property rights of subsurface mineral owners.

Any new Federal regulations must recognize that States are already regulating development, and should have primacy over these oil and gas wells within the refuge system.