the higher level of technical expertise, now you are competing with the private sector trying to get those people.

Not a single prosecution has occurred. Not one.

As Congressman Connolly pointed out, we are focused on strengthening specialized acquisition cadres for IT, for services and for others.

This topic, while maybe not universally sexy, the taxpayers' interest is lost or won, frankly, at this level of management.

When he was sent into space, he was in a capsule on top of a rocket with hundreds of thousands of pounds of thrust, comforted in the knowledge that both had been won by the lowest Federal bidder.

I am concerned that with the best of intentions, that has a degrading effect on the quality of acquisition.

I appreciate the committee's attention to this critical issue, and Ranking Member Connolly's proposed legislation that would support smart investments in the acquisition work force.

I am very concerned, very concerned that the progress we have made over the past 2 years is at risk.

The bill sends a very strong signal of improving and strengthening the Federal Acquisition Institute.

The answer to every problem here in Washington seems to be, we will just regulate it, and I think that at least as I travel across the Fifth District of Virginia where I represent people who recognize that is not a good formula for…

I appreciate the fact that you seem to recognize that there should be a cost-benefit analysis that goes with every regulatory structure.

I want to bring to your attention a letter from myself and other colleagues from the Virginia congressional delegation to ask you to reconsider that determination made on Lease 220.

It is my hope that this provision will allow content owners and intermediaries to work together to root out infringing sites quickly.

I want to thank you on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth for your work in protecting and preserving historic Fort Monroe.

It seems like spreading this out over another five years is less than what we are capable of.

It was disappointing when the announcement came out on the 2012-2017 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program that Lease 220 in Virginia was not included as part of that.

I want to ask this. As you look across the board with that broad bipartisan support, you look at the Governor of Virginia, the Virginia legislature, local officials, state officials have all said let us go forward with Lease 220.

I think both of the conflicts are very, very similar, and to me they ought to be able to be taken up and those issues taken care of in a fairly timely manner.