I was pleased to see that funding sources for the National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) were increased this year.

Last year FDA was provided with a $150 million in supplemental funds.

All right. Dr. Sharfstein, does the $14.6 million 'strategic framework' for food safety include implementation of FDA's Food Protection Plan?

As the President and the Secretary of State have made clear, security in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as for us here at home, are inextricably linked.

I am disheartened that the administration in this initial budget proposal places little emphasis on ag research...

Thank you. Well, Dr. Sharfstein, we want to thank you and your staff for being here today.

I am most encouraged with you as a person in terms of your knowledge, your enterprise, your energy, your ambition, and I am convinced you are and will be a great Secretary of Agriculture.

Thanks a lot, Senator Brownback.

Thank you, that's a candid answer.

I do need to pursue what Senator Wyden very appropriately began, and that is the issue of the Gang of Eight statute.

the notion that a Committee can be fully informed when just two Members are notified to me is illogical

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week, you expressed continued concern about cooperation between the ISI and the Taliban.

We have just a minute or so before we have to end.

I believe the FDA is going to become increasingly responsive to all the important needs in our society under your direction along with Dr. Hamburg.

Your Rapid Response Program, how's that working?

I am worried and have raised concerns about ongoing reports of misconduct and human rights abuses by the Ethiopian military.

I look forward to hearing the results of your review.

Would you object to the Congress appropriating these funds directly to the State Department with the exact same authority provided to the Pentagon under current law?