Obviously, diplomacy, information, our military power, our economic power, these are all vitally important to our national security.

In Rhode Island, our state regulation for these assisted living facilities has a section called 'Rights of Residents.'

I appreciate your attention to it.

You advocated here for a federal assisted living Bill of Rights.

Today's hearing provides us an opportunity to evaluate our current statutory authorities, law enforcement tools, and resources for protecting the American people from the serious and ever growing threat of international organized crime.

Every day, as we know, overseas criminal networks target Americans, weakening our economic prosperity and compromising our safety.

The international organized crime networks we confront today are significantly different from La Cosa Nostra and other criminal networks we confronted in the past.

I think, like many Members of Congress, am very concerned about the capability and the capacity and really the corruption

I think we have a lot of financing tools that were designed during a different age of industrial and manufacturing, and we really need to have this nimbleness in government to be able to respond to this new economy.

I always want to begin my comments about the SBA with recognizing the great director in Rhode Island, Mark Hayward.

Thank you for this opportunity to present testimony in support of H.R. 2027.

We might be sort of captives of our history.

I hope that as you serve the people of the Ninth Circuit in this role, assuming that you are confirmed, that you will not view with equanimity efforts that deprive people of access to the jury, given its core constitutional role.

I will ask unanimous consent that Chairman Leahy's statement in support of your nomination be incorporated into the record.

Let me congratulate you on your period of service to our country.

I think you've acquitted yourself very well in this hearing and I look forward to supporting your nomination as we go forward.

Would it be fair to characterize your answer as saying that as a judicial matter the opinion of foreign governments carries no weight?

I would highlight, emphasize, and double underline what Senator Grassley warned you about the importance of prompt answers.