Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing, and let me acknowledge each and every one of the witnesses as patriots and individuals who love this country, and we respect that.

The percent of children in poverty increases to 21 percent in children below the age of five.

I have worked hard on the Summer Food Program.

The 13 million American children below the age of 18 living in families with incomes below the poverty level is a stunning number in and of itself.

For the first time in over a decade the Senate will be taking a close look at the American health care system and enacting reforms to help improve coverage, access, and quality of care for all Americans.

Long term care will be an important part of this debate.

It is just staggering what our challenge is.

I think these issues that involve children, just like we made progress recently on children's health insurance, this issue, as well, I think is a matter of basic justice for children and for families.

Mr. Chairman, thank you very much, and I want to commend you on presiding over this hearing and highlighting this important issue.

These are astronomical costs that our older citizens are not always aware of or able to pay for.

The cost of this care is high.

I would like to thank Chairman Kohl for calling this important hearing on Health Care Reform in an Aging America.

And I appreciate this opportunity for us to examine, with these experts, the national security challenge that we face with regard to Iran, and also to explore the options.

We will make sure even if we're not here for the whole hearing that we review, and try to incorporate the testimony in our work.

I know how worried people are. I have some sense of the anxiety that they feel, and this issue is critically important.

I appreciate you calling this hearing, and appreciate the presence of the new ranking member, Senator Martinez.

We have an obligation in the Congress, in both parties, to do everything we can to provide some peace of mind that comes with retirement security.

I think it is enormously important for this very important department to have a focused jurisdiction.