The need to generate bipartisan support for an increasingly civilian-led effort.

Unless you have that money, that's right.

Another point is, when we were there DOD and DOS had identified over 1,000 tasks that had to be transitioned or accommodated.

We're looking at a 90 percent reduction, which is good news.

$72 billion. You have roughly $74 billion we are committing annually.

This is not a nominal figure in DOS. This is a huge amount of money.

Again, let me reiterate. We all understand that when programs migrate from DOD over to foreign aid, we keep the troops in the field for support.

I look forward to working with him and to have my staff work with his staff on helping to resolve the issues.

I intend to treat you and our new Republican member, Senator Lee, should he come, as if they were because I think it is a fait accompli, and we might as well yield to common sense.

I can assure you--and I bet you that Senator Franken and Senator Blumenthal can do the same--that the foreclosure problem does not exist in anywhere near the dimensions that it does in the general market when the bank is still there.

The Rhode Island program is modest, but I believe that it has the potential to help many thousands of homeowners, and help is definitely needed.

I agree with you. But here we are dealing with people who are required to file for bankruptcy.

Thank you very much, Mr. Britt. Your story provides an important backdrop against which the testimony of our next witness I think it is important to be seen.

I want to first of all thank our Ranking Member, Senator Grassley, who is an extraordinarily distinguished member of this body.

Let me ask you specifically: Of the three elements of this proposal, one is that somebody has to show up in the court with full settlement authority for the bank.

I am delighted to be joined by the Judiciary Committee's Ranking Member, Hon. Chuck Grassley, who I am very much looking forward to working with on these issues as we go forward.

Do you object to them having to show up with full settlement authority? Do you object to them having to show up during the loss mitigation process? Or do you object to them having to negotiate in good faith?

That is what bankruptcy courts do. Right? That is where you go to get contracts renegotiated, and it is the American way that it is in everybody's best interests to get that done.