We are seeing oil prices in recent weeks hovering around $100 a barrel. And natural gas prices remaining at exceeding historic highs, which I think is adding great impact to what Americans are doing in trying to deal with this economy.

A real injustice had been done to a whole lot of black guys who were serving their country and somebody had to speak up for them.

The American people, and especially the parents of all current and former pages, are entitled to know how this situation was handled.

That's why science has to rule at the FDA. And with this decision on Plan B, they have now said politics trumps science.

So we could actually send people on six-month cruises for half the price that we're paying to actually have people sit at the dock.

So it actually costs the taxpayers about $3,500 a week and you can go on a cruise for $599 a week.

I believe we should be taking an even larger leadership role in this region.

I really encourage you to be aggressive in defending and standing for our presence in Southeast Asia.

I think we all know that the tsunami was one of the largest and most devastating natural disasters we've seen in recent history.

Secretary Rice, thank you so much for being here today.

I really agree that it is an emergency situation for those families, and they paid the ultimate price for our country.

But we do not see one dime in this budget. In this supplemental cost-of-war emergency funding, we do not see one dime for veterans.

Many of us have encouraged the administration to increase those programs.

I’m also pleased to see the additional funding has been added for equipment, including the armored security vehicles.

And it is part of costs of the war, I think you would agree. The cost of caring for our veterans is----

I will be offering an amendment on this supplemental when it comes before this committee for $2 billion to care for our veterans.

if this is a cost of war, then we should have money in the supplemental, in the emergency supplemental, to take care of these veterans.

I don't have time this morning to outline for this committee the inadequacy we have, but I will tell any of you go home next week and visit your veterans facilities, talk to the service people who are responsible for reintegration for your…