As we in Congress continue working on broad legislation to reform our broken health care system and ensure accessible, affordable health insurance for all Americans, we take advantage of this hearing today to examine a particularly cruel…

The process can and should be more transparent.

I also want to thank Senator Isakson for his very eloquent and very profound testimony.

This is an issue that needs to be addressed.

We must do more and move aggressively to ensure that qualified homeowners get access to existing initiatives.

If we want to stabilize the economy, we must be sure we also address the root of the problem.

In nine States, a single insurer controls at least 75 percent of the market.

94 percent of metropolitan areas have a health insurance market that is highly concentrated.

Just sort of a basic element of plain old fair play, isn't it?

In 39 States, two health insurers control at least half of the market.

I understand also that they were given credit by the regulators for their affordable housing goals with the purchase of much of these market private label securities.

And what is the breakdown between the mortgage-backed securities and----

But as we have seen during this crisis, many of those, if not most of those, AAA-rated securities have, in fact, been downgraded.

I believe that continuation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as member owned cooperatives would serve to establish standards.

Careful consideration should be given to the desirability of fixed rate mortgages and the mechanisms for maintaining that market.

I am pleased and proud today to be here to introduce Associate Justice Rogeriee Thompson, the nominee for Rhode Island's traditional seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Serving as an appellate judge is a unique opportunity, and this lifetime appointment should be for those who have demonstrated they have the intellectual gifts, the experience, the judgment, maturity, and temperament to take on this…

After these deliberations, we came to the conclusion that Judge Thompson was uniquely qualified to serve on the First Circuit.