Mike Johanns

I certainly know that mental health and suicide are challenges that servicemembers and veterans are struggling with very intensely.

It is enormously troubling. I know that the DOD and the VA are making an effort to stem this tide, but we all hope that more can be done and sooner.

We do have a responsibility to care for our servicemembers not only while they are in the military, but also when they leave.

I have a Toyota product, and its floor mats have hooks on it.

I'm as free trade as anybody here. But, I will tell you, the American consumer is getting tired of this kind of thing, if, in fact, the problem is that we are getting substandard products from some other part of the world.

Full investigation, top to bottom.

What I'm also extremely tired of is the treatment we get versus how we handle these things. Our borders get shut, their cars keep coming.

I always considered those to be the greatest risk and greatest challenge that we faced.

I do want to reflect on something, if I could.

What they have done to us, in an area that I'm concerned about, in my personal opinion, outrageous.

The reason I'm bringing this up is, having that Toyota product--I have a light-colored carpet.

My hope is that as we think about not just this budget but the future and where we are going from here that relationship becomes more seamless.

If you put the needs of that veteran as the paramount issue, then there is no reason why that community health care center cannot provide those services.

Even though our States are very different in some respects, in some respects we are kind of the same.

The worst thing that would happen is if we get 18 months down the road and the veterans' groups are coming to us saying the backlog has not improved.

I would like to thank the Chairman and the Ranking Member.

We are focused on one thing, and that is, how do we care for the veterans.

In effect, it sounds to me like a Government liquidation, and I do not know that I would want to personally buy into that.

Let me also draw your attention to something, and I am running out of time here, but I was just catching up on some things, and I noticed today that first-time unemployment filings have increased.

Isn't Fannie and Freddie the government version of that too big to fail?

Neither approach will eliminate the exposure that the taxpayer faces. Would you agree with me there?

I think we have done some good work as we have tried to move through regulatory reform.

Investing in clean energy is investing in our future.

We want to do more wind energy in Nebraska. We have a lot of wind.

I think the Chairman makes a good point, that's kind of an entry point for a lot of issues here.