I was afraid that that would be the answer.

I respectfully request the Chairman to look at the base closing bill and see if maybe we need to do the same thing with the Coast Guard stations.

If those recommendations were implemented, would it have any impact on reducing the improper payments, the $14 billion in improper payments?

This seems ridiculous that they have identified unnecessary facilities that are costing $260 million.

I think we ought to take a more positive approach to this on the whole spectrum of improper payments.

I was advised by one, the reason for the accident even though the guards work is the guys in the truck, one of whom lost his life, were used to seeing coal trains coming around that corner about 30 miles an hour.

I think a lot of people would support a rail if it didn't go through the middle of their downtowns and our neighborhoods and if it was actually safe, which this clearly is not.

Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

Sunshine is, I believe, the best disinfectant.

I thank the gentleman from North Carolina and the chairman for their indulgence.

My concern is, is that some of the stuff is carried over so long, particularly on improper payments, the amount keeps going up.

If it is above your pay grade, that is kind of depressing.

That includes collecting all the taxes. That means taking advantage of our energy resources.

Today's hearing marks the continuation of the committee's close look at the rising problem of federal improper payments.

So, when someone files a fraudulent claim, they file it at the State level...

Thank you very much. I yield back.

Given that for the last 2 years Medicaid improper payments have exceeded $36 billion, does CMS inflate its funding request to include improper payments?

The point I want to make is really that we can get to a balanced budget.

Section 257 B1 of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act requires budget scorekeeping decisions to assume that funding for entitlements already is adequate to make all payments required by those laws.

We need to look at it, and I am going to challenge all of you to look at this as if it were your own money because indeed it is.

Well, that is an administrative issue ----

Can any serious effort to reduce our growing deficit and debt problems exclude reforms to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?

I think earlier Congresswomen Black asked about the new baseline being altered with CSR payments.

I think we cannot ignore this, that there has been a dramatic increase in addiction in the States that have expanded.

Well, you mentioned fentanyl. It was recently reported that there were three people arrested who enough fentanyl to kill everybody in Toledo.