we are so concerned that opinions overtake facts, and the next thing you know you are making decisions based on an insight but not really sound scientific evidence.

I look forward to working with you and with NOAA when we deal with these issues that affect my State or really our region.

I have to say of all the nominees by the President for his Cabinet or for White House appointments that I have interviewed, Dr. Lubchenco is the most engaging and qualified.

I had a veteran in my office this morning, a Purple Heart veteran, by the way, who had a 9:30 appointment.

I want to ask you to do something that Abraham Lincoln suggested we do that worked very good back then...

The confidence of the American people is at a low ebb.

If you want to increase military voter participation, FVAP has to provide voting assistance, as the Inspector General said, on a timely and consistent basis.

By your calling this hearing today, we are taking an important step in that direction.

Thank you very much for your work in this area.

Well, it seems like that might be, again, one of those education measures that we can take advantage of because everybody that comes to a new base goes through that support service office.

I do appreciate the goals of this legislation and I will be offering an amendment that I believe will help meet those goals.

Our staffs have worked well together to make what I believe to be some necessary improvements to the bill.

Thank you Mr. Chairman and let me just echo the sentiments that you have stated, and Senator Bennett and Senator Nelson have stated with reference to the work on this.

I worked very closely with him. Now that he is Chairman, we continue to work very closely together and your commitment to this has just been unbelievable.

I want to echo what Senator Bennett just said. I was to meet with Mr. Sullivan a couple of weeks ago and it didn't work out and I had to call him up and apologize for canceling the meeting, but I wanted to come look him in the face today…

More states will be able to comply with the 45 day requirement and more military and overseas voters will be able to obtain their ballots in time with this requirement in place.

We recognize that election administration functions are carried out on the local level and we do not intend to transfer those responsibilities to the State in this legislation.

This is the way this body is supposed to work in my mind.