I thank the gentleman. Let me just say, I mentioned that we have had examples in the past. Let me just give one where programs that were supposed to be competitively awarded were, in fact, earmarked. Last year we established a grant…

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, designated as No. 3 under the rule. The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Amendment No. 3 offered by Mr. Flake: Page 12, after line 25…

Madam Chair, this amendment, I hope, is noncontroversial in nature. Section 105 of the bill would authorize appropriations for several National Science Foundation grant programs dealing with cybersecurity. For example, the bill authorizes…

This is our fourth hearing on Afghanistan in this subcommittee.

How can we ensure, or can we do anything to ensure, that China intervenes in Afghanistan in a responsible way?

I think this is the most important hearing so far, given the timing, with the President announcing his new strategy just last week.

This gives voice to Saint Augustine's lament: Give me sobriety, but not yet.

I think earmarks are overrated. You know, whether I get a little money for a museum or a sidewalk, I think my constituents would rather have me be a little more fiscally responsible. I think that they want an end to the practice of…

I don't know how you can have this level of mismanagement at the U.N., this big of a scandal, and not say to the man at the top that you had nothing to do with it.

Had everyone known it would be $534 billion, it may have caused a few other members of Congress to not get on board. And that would have been helpful, frankly, to those of us that didn't want to see it passed.