We must improve coordination between Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as the private sector.

With more than 95 percent of our imports flowing through our ports and with millions of passengers and maritime containers passing through them with only limited inspections, we must have a far better security system in place than we do…

Our seaports are as important in the war against terrorism as the safety of the food we eat and the security of the planes we fly in.

We must have a clear chain of accountability to achieve port security.

I think it is interesting that at every single hearing we have had, no matter what the areas we are looking at, we find that agencies are not talking to one another or not sharing information or there is a lack of coordination.

I want to thank you for convening this important hearing.

If we can inspect at the point of origin, it seems to me that really is the way we have to go.

We must have highly trained and a sufficient number of employees.

Unfortunately, that is exactly right. Unbelievable though it may seem, the formula that is being used actually penalizes those agencies in our two States that have done a good job of holding down costs.

The regulatory overkill of the Clinton administration has already exceeded the savings projected by the balanced budget amendment.

This solves the problem. For one thing, it eliminates another 15-percent cut that is scheduled to go into effect in October of next year.

More than 2,300 home health agencies across the country have been forced to close their doors as a result of the regulatory burden and the flawed payment system.

The point is, cuts of this magnitude, that we have seen in the State of Maine and throughout the country, cannot be sustained without hurting senior citizens.

Senate Republicans are committed to enacting legislation to preserve, strengthen, and save Medicare for current and future generations.

The Congress must act to ensure that the fundamental right of American women to choose for themselves is not lost.

We should remember that when GI Bill benefits were established in 1944, they were the initial step in the federal provision of educational assistance.