Richard Shelby

The unemployment rate is 8.8 percent. When you consider the underemployed and those who have stopped looking for work, the real unemployment rate is actually much higher, at 16.2 percent.

We want the end result, don't we?

They should be proud of what they've done.

We want these programs to work. And we have to measure them. And if they don't work, we figure out something that will work.

I hope you're committed to that.

In fiscal year 2012, I believe we need to make cuts to our discretionary budget. I don't think we have any choice.

Let's pump them up. If they're not working, let's find out why they're not working.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would think we could all agree that providing the same services to the same population but through separate administrative structures does not make sense.

However, some of my colleagues on the HELP authorizing committee, specifically Senator Enzi and Senator Hatch have talked to me, and have many outstanding requests for information from your Department.

I am concerned that the new chronic disease grant program will create a scenario where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

While I do not agree myself with Congress appropriating $120 million for an insolvent program, it makes even less sense to me to spend $93.5 million of that funding to promote a program that we know is structured currently to fail.

To get Federal spending under control in the long term, we must reduce spending in the short term.

A lot of this could be prevented if you had all the information at the initial hearing, where you'd save money, but it'd also bring justice if somebody was really disabled.

To ensure that the Congress has the necessary information to make informed decisions about the implementation of the new law going forward, Madam Secretary, would you commit--and have you committed before--to have your Department respond…

NIH research led to the announcement of a very promising cystic fibrosis therapy that targets the genetic defect.

In other words, it is taxpayers' money you are asking for here. Right? $120 million.

I am disappointed that the administration has not significantly reduced healthcare spending.

In this austere economic environment, Congress is struggling with difficult budget decisions.

If we could ferret out who is getting better... that would help vitalize this program, would it not?

Complete these disability claims in days compared to months.

I look forward to working with you to craft a bill that balances the needs of our healthcare system with our fiscal realities.

Do you have some statistics... on if 20,000 cases are appealed from the... to the Federal court?

I also noted in your testimony that you expressed support for the administration's proposed Disability Work Incentives Simplification Pilot Program, which would provide beneficiaries with the flexibility to return to work without fear of…

But--because we're interested in spending the money wisely, being efficient for the people who need assistance.