I'm really disappointed that the fiscal year 2004 budget request for the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration fails to recognize the workforce needs of this country.

Last Friday's March unemployment report brought more bad news for the working men and women of this country.

Mitch Daniels said in his letter, and I quote, to provide benefits for a specific industry would be unusual, unfair, and potentially harmful to our national unemployment system.

At a time when American workers are suffering continuing economic hardship and record long-term joblessness, the Bush budget proposes a cut of $678 million for Workforce Investment Act-funded programs.

We're seeing tremendous suffering across the country in terms of economic hardship and record long-term joblessness.

To specific industries. So under the standard that an unemployment extension for airline industries is, and I quote: 'unfair and potentially harmful because it provides benefits for a specific industry, and by the same standard, trade…

you keep arguing that employment and training services can be accomplished without impacting service delivery

The unemployment extension merely helps these people through a difficult time in our Nation's economy through tragic circumstances that have occurred in the airline industry beyond anybody's control.

I was really disappointed yesterday to see the President's opposition to a temporary extension of unemployment insurance benefits to our unemployed airline industry workers who have lost their jobs.

There isn't enough money in the workforce system now.

There is kind of this assumption out there that NIH only funds politically correct diseases...

I think we have made a lot of progress on reducing gender bias, but I am still deeply concerned...

Can you give us any kind of time line on that?

Mr. Chairman, I would just say that if we do pre-certification and confuse people even more, then we are doing a real disservice to people who actually should be getting the EITC for very good reasons that we have set out before.

Let me turn to Amtrak. I earlier pointed out that you are seeking a 22 percent cut in the total level of funding for Amtrak.

I think it is a very important question, Mr. Secretary, and we would like to hear from you as soon as possible.

This is for aviation workers and I understand they have had the triple whammy.

But would you not agree that we have required a lot of our airports and our airlines in terms of security that has added a burden at a time when they are still struggling because of the economy?