If we're going to ask them to risk that, then we should do our job to bless the mission and say that it's worth it.

ISIL is the immediate threat and, therefore, should be addressed first.

The administration testified, in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in May, that the 2002 AUMF was obsolete and should be repealed.

Isn't that pretty compelling evidence that the current level is inadequate and therefore, that your position that it should be adequately staffed should lead you to say more resources--many more resources--are necessary.

Well, that's the kind of reaction, Mr. Friedman, if I may, I mean no disrespect, but for the ordinary consumer, a car stalling repeatedly on highways or anywhere is a problem.

You are the face of that failure.

Well, can you commit to me when you will complete that task? You've missed the deadline. When will it be done?

I think you have sensed from the reaction of this subcommittee on both sides of the aisle that there is a question here about the record.

But wouldn't you agree with me that that maximum fine is wholly inadequate as a measure of their failure?

But you would support the legislation that I proposed to remove that cap and others on this committee have supported it as well?

I think that there has to be a more realistic attitude about what the real-life consequences are of the agency's performance.

I don't think it was a shrug. I don't think it was a nod. I think it was a NHTSA snooze.

Your supposed watchdog agency had neither bark nor bite and, in fact, led consumers to have a false sense of security.

So you do support that legislation. I'm delighted to hear that you will support it, if that's your testimony.

Well, I would like a more solid date.

MAP-21 required NHTSA to make those bulletins available on its website searchable by the public by 2013.

NHTSA information and interaction with the public over vehicle safety recalls will be vastly improved if more information about recalls and defects is available.

I want to thank you for committing to me, when we first met, that you would do the right thing, and then, in fact, doing the right thing.