They need someone who believes--as I do--that investing in them is investing in our future.

I have been holding a number of hearings in my State to talk about the lack of healthcare providers that are out there, and there is a direct correlation with cost.

I am delighted that you are going to be leading us as we head into a very important healthcare discussion and, hopefully, move legislation this year.

the American people have sort of lost faith in the leaders of our financial institutions, and they are skeptical that the Government has used taxpayer money wisely so far.

I think that is so important. We have to understand that this is having a huge impact.

we are working with the administration to get a funding level of $6.5 billion for fiscal year 2010

I want to make sure that we agree that the Federal Government has a moral and legal obligation to clean up those sites across the country.

the Economic Recovery Plan, whose focus is on the EM sites, needs nationwide to reduce their footprint

We have got to educate people today for the jobs that are going to be out there.

Well, in honesty in budgets, that is probably a proposal that is DOA when it gets here.

This is an obligation, and I am looking for at least $6.5 billion in the fiscal year 2010 request when the details are finally announced.

But is this specific proposal one that you are looking at?

I appreciate a budget that comes to us that addresses that, and at the same time says we have got to get our arms around some very critical issues--energy, health care, education--in order to make sure that we have a strong economy in the…

I am extremely concerned about some of our countries in Central and Eastern Europe who are seeing increasing financial instability.

the efforts that have been made so far to strengthen our banks and unfreeze the credit markets and stabilize this housing market have really failed to generate any confidence with the American people or with the markets.

I especially want to extend a welcome to Valerie O'Meara. She has traveled here across the country to testify in front of us today as a nurse practitioner from the Seattle VA Center.

As I have said many times, Mr. Chairman, our VA staff are some of the most caring and compassionate people I know.

We shouldn't leave this up to the bankruptcy courts. We should have a good, strong federal law that says these are your responsibilities.