America is counting on us to not play politics with science and not play politics with the future of our competitiveness in the world.

NSF is critical to support scientific exploration and science education.

The Federal Home Loan Banks play a critical role in our Nation's housing finance and community lending system.

I cannot think of a more timely hearing given recent attention on Government Sponsored Enterprises and debate over the nature and scope of their regulatory agency.

Would it not make sense to maintain the prohibition on Canadian livestock and meat exports into the United States until the United States can be comfortable that they have eliminated their backlog and that their inspection regime is…

I want to welcome Under Secretary Hawks, Under Secretary Bost, Under Secretary Murano today, as well as FDA Commissioner McClellan.

Well, it concerns me that they may use the same science ultimately as we use in the United States, but if there is a 4-month backlog in this particular instance, that gives rise to great concern that what would have happened if that animal…

Doesn't it make sense to USDA that tracking of 2 million imported cattle would be less costly than keeping track of the 28 million within the United States?

Would you agree that the law prohibits on-farm mandatory animal identification and does not permit third-party mandates by packers?

The country of origin labeling law gave USDA discretion to create an audit verification system, but not a mandatory system.

I would hope that our USDA will be very aggressive in working with Canada in that regard.

This zeroing out, I think, has largely to do with making room for the President's massive tax cut.

I am concerned that in order to accommodate the President's proposed $726 billion tax cut, the Administration has made significant cuts to critical programs that benefit farmers, ranchers, and all American citizens.

the elimination of $200 million from the water and sewer grants to small communities ... is just immense

this zeroing out, I think, has largely to do with making room for the President's massive tax cut

I am disappointed by these cuts and by the Administration's priority for a $726 billion tax cut that would not serve the interests of South Dakota and rural America.

there is a widely held and growing view across much of America that the Department of Agriculture is teaming up with the packers to sandbag country of origin labeling for meat.

I hope that USDA keeps an open mind about finding a reasonable method to, in good faith, implement country of origin labeling.