Mr. President, our Nation is in the midst of a Presidential election in which the American people are currently deciding who will be our next Commander in Chief. In my home State of North Carolina, many voters have already submitted their…

So, there was a yes in there somewhere, I believe.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize or permit the Secretary as a condition of approval of the State plan or revisions or amendments to the State plan to prescribe any specific school support and improvement strategies or…

Congress recognized the negative impact this had on students, and we worked in a bipartisan fashion to pass a law that would restore State and local control of K-12 education.

I wish he would have told us how the marshmallow pizza tasted.

Under No Child Left Behind, the Federal Government dictated how States and school districts measured school performance.

Any change is going to result in an increase in premium to our consumers as a result of the adoption of this.

I also think our standard of insurance regulation is by far the best in the world.

Those are things that need to be discussed because right now if we are going to it use to pay them, we are at negative interest rates.

Covered agreements and pre-emption were designed to harmonize reinsurance standards across national borders.

I laud the chairman for this bill. I think it is important that Congress continue to be in the driver's seat on this.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for being here, and I also want to quickly thank you for your help in working with us on lean meats as it related to the Dietary Guidelines.

I was disappointed to learn that this recommendation, along with a prior lumber determination by the Department of Energy, was made without consultation with the USDA.

So could you talk a little bit more about the decision to create the program and support for HBCUs?

We think that's an important program to continue and needs to have a set-aside for HBCUs and MSIs because of their critical role in the economy and our culture.

I'm encouraged as well that you will do well with your confirmation, and congratulations.

When is the United States Government--when are we going to fight back as it relates to domestic supports that are provided in other countries?

I'm very concerned about what's happening within your Department's Office for Civil Rights.