It also shows that the Federal Government can be, is and must be an engine for private sector growth, and nowhere else is that more true than with respect to developing new energy technologies.

In terms of what has happened in Ohio, according to municipal bond strategists, upon the recent passage of Ohio State union reform legislation, the cost of borrowing reflected by the yield of the State's long-term general obligation bonds…

We certainly appreciate your analysis. This is certainly an ongoing series, and we want to have feedback on what is necessary for us to have accurate transparency and disclosure in the marketplace.

This is a beef with the credit rating agencies, is you guys talk around the problem and actually not address it.

It appears even though we have had a reduction in work forces, both federally, State-wide and in municipalities, there still exists an unfunded mandate.

Americans have a right to know that the money Washington takes from them is well spent.

Americans deserve an efficient, effective government that works for them.

Our solemn responsibility is to hold government accountable to taxpayers.

I think that the challenge, when you look at public plans, is that the current governmental accounting standards allow for a range of actuarial assumptions when they are calculating those liabilities.

Would uniform disclosures assist in credit rating and transparency for investors?

It would seem that under such circumstances, if the family earned that median income, it would take them a great deal of time to save $34,000 to put toward a home.

I want to do everything possible to be sure we can detect as many and, obviously, prevent this ammonium nitrate as the base.

What would the impact be on U.S. banks that hold mortgage-related securities relative to their competitors abroad, and would our banks be required to hold comparatively more capital?

These regulations constitute a federal overreach into academic affairs.

Escalated intervention by Washington bureaucrats has done little to fix the problems in our education system.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is an honor to recognize the Reverend Raymond Bowman today, who just gave the opening prayer. Seldom has Congress been more in need of prayer than we are today. Rev. Bowman was raised in Chicago. He came to…

I think that is important.

In my opinion, when Federal dollars are involved, there needs to be oversight.