It significantly strengthened the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and since that time, I know the Chairman takes great pride in the fact, as do I, that FEMA's response to natural disasters has improved enormously.

These responsibilities are in addition to the many other challenges associated with the operation of a Department with some 210,000 employees and a mission to secure our borders.

Senator Lieberman and I have been strong advocates for reforms that have resulted in greater competition, accountability, and transparency to Federal contracting.

I intend to request additional resources and personnel for Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help stem the flow of drugs and people moving north into the United States and guns and money moving south…

there's very little competition in the insurance market.

I would be remiss in my duties as the Ranking Minority Member if I did not ask that you also treat requests from the Minority in the same manner...

Did you put into the system additional reviews or safeguards or higher-level approvals to ensure the integrity of the procurement process?

And when is this system going to be established?

I am concerned, however, that the technological infrastructure that is necessary to process those documents, including passport cards, efficiently will not be in place by June at all of the land ports of entry.

millions of Americans who required health care services were at the mercy of a small medical data company called Ingenix

You heard Senator Snowe describe the consolidation of the health insurance market, to the point of real market control, without enforcement action.

What about balance billing, which is another issue that--you know, that, unfortunately, so many individuals are having to pay because of an underpaid insurance, so the doctor goes directly to the patient to recover those charges.

the combined market share of the five largest insurance companies now controls 75 percent of the market.

They talked to me about the need to have a patient-centered reimbursement system under healthcare rather than a procedure-centered system.

Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that takes a tremendous personal and economic toll on both the individual, the family, and our country.

Thank you so much for holding this very important hearing that is of such tremendous interest, as you can see by this packed room.

In my own family, we are all too familiar with the pain and hardship associated with Alzheimer's.

I am concerned, however, about the problems that occur after the men and women come home from deployment or after they have been discharged.