Mark Begich

I believe that we have to bear that.

He has been doing this for 27 years in the House--30.

I hope that you would take that as an offer that if you are confirmed, that after a couple months you set those metrics.

That kind of crosses over to another role I have here, which is the Chair of the Subcommittee with emergency management jurisdiction.

25 percent is unacceptable.

How will you handle that--because, to be frank with you, what we do not want to be is surprised.

Do you think there is something more that can be done that we could do or that we could encourage to be done?

I know one of the issues we have had, as on grants is the accountability of grants.

So this is something that through Homeland Security or FEMA or whatever the right organization is, depending on who you are dealing with, FBI or whatever those MOUs are with, it is something that they could, change by, sitting down and…

There is going to be a gap, Senator. No question.

Nothing legislatively prohibits them.

Do you think FEMA is understanding that there--or Homeland Security/FEMA is understanding--that there is an ever growing now on the natural disaster end, that is bigger?

How do we create some consistency?

I certainly support and believe that we need to keep the two intertwined, again, but I think it is flexibility that is the key here.

The separation between terrorism and natural disasters--not only is it artificial when it comes to consequences.

Do you think the model has to be updated because you made me think about it when you said the natural disaster issues overwhelm the system?

That tension is always there, and it is a challenge, I think, to try to navigate that for any issue, including homeland security.

So the bulk of the money goes here. There is a little bit left. So just spread it.

Alaskan oil is an economic driver for the entire West Coast.

After 10 years and more than $40 billion, if we have not secured Small Town, Ohio, it is time to let Small Town, Ohio take care of itself.

The point I think Senator Paul is making is: How are these expenditures managed? What are really the capabilities and needs?

I am just guessing because we have all these reports we love to get, and then we go onto the next crisis.

I am sure if Senator Landrieu was here she would want to add a zero to her number.

Help me create some assurance here that you are in the process now or have some ability to ensure.

As a former mayor, we operated an emergency management system and worked with FEMA and worked with a lot of different groups.