This is a real problem, and I must say I too think that the head of OPM should be here today.

This failure is certainly no model and it is no way to set an example for private sector employers to follow.

Do you think that this document is misleading to consumers?

I can tell you that if you told seniors or if you told Federal employees today, as you did, that you can change from 5 to 4 percent, it will protect your core benefit, there will be, quote, no change in current benefit levels, they would…

This is simply unacceptable, particularly given the fact that OPM began to recognize the real possibility of increases as early as 2003.

The Federal Government should lead the way.

I also wanted to point out that there is a GAO study in the works, and it was first requested by Senator Snowe.

the increased loan size is something that has been a priority of Senator Snowe's for quite some time now

the Next Steps for Main Street, introduced by Senator Snowe

Senator Snowe is very concerned about some of the recent GAO decisions that created a super preference for HUBZones.

Senator Snowe realizes the importance of true parity among the programs and the detriment of fighting amongst the programs.

I just again want to thank our witnesses for all of their work--they have all been working on it for quite some time--and to assure you of our determination to get the kinds of reforms that we all believe are needed signed into law.

As Senator Collins said, our adversaries are not sitting in the stands waiting to see what we do.

It seems to me that when you went to the CDC a year ago and showed such glaring deficiencies in just basic security measures, that the agency should have acted immediately.

I suspect that the cultural differences are also reflected in the regulators.

It is startling to me that you could present the regulator with the report showing such serious problems and no action was taken, but that is what happened.

Just following up on that point, we have done a lot of work with State and local governments, and with our private sector partners to improve the response because obviously if you are a terrorist and you think a community is unable to…

true parity requires an equal opportunity for all the programs to compete