John McCain

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank the witnesses.

Are you worried about hospital overutilization, lack of capacity in the hospitals in America?

I have been observing you, Secretary Duncan, and your efforts at improving education in America, and I applaud many of your efforts.

But you did make original estimates as to what is needed, and so I would be interested in knowing when you are able to--with the manufacturing capability now restored, when we will restore to what the original requirements are.

That is a rather significant difference from what they expected to receive in Arizona, Madam Secretary.

I hope you will keep revisiting this issue of whether we need to close the border or not.

I really hope that we would pursue vigorously better technological and scientific and, frankly, closer observation of people going across the border than is presently the case.

I think it is appropriate, again--as Senator Collins pointed out--36,000 people do tragically die every year from the flu that we experience in this country.

What conditions would warrant that you recommend that the border between the U.S. and Mexico be closed?

In a best-case scenario, how long would it take us to discover and develop a vaccine that would combat H1N1?

I think we need to--and I believe you are--maintain a careful balance between not causing panic out there amongst the American people, but at the same time making them aware of the implications of this threat.

What conditions would prevail that would say we need to close the border between the U.S. and Mexico, if any?

Thank you for your continued communication with the American people.

Senator John McCain, a member of the armed services committee, is also asking for answers, including just how much that flyover cost.

$227 million for construction of IHS facilities, an additional $227 million, doesn't come along very often.

I think it is important, as you mentioned in one of your answers, that you travel to Indian Country as extensively as possible, particularly at the beginning of your tenure.

One of the problems that we have seen throughout my time on this Committee is the failure, at least perceived failure, on the part of the tribes to be adequately consulted when priorities are set by the Department of Health and Human…

We are very proud of your work and we are very proud and appreciate the many contributions you have made.

U.S. climate policy would be more of an opportunity for, rather than a hindrance to, the U.S economy.

We cannot afford to squander billions of taxpayer dollars on administrative errors and deceitful practices in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

The problem is not simply one of waste, but also of fraud.

With Medicare costs rising to $454 billion in fiscal year 2008 and Medicaid expenditures topping $352 billion, it is important for us to continue to exercise robust oversight of these programs.

I would just be interested if the witnesses are in agreement with that.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing, and I look forward to this Committee coming to Phoenix, Arizona, on April, 20, so we can get a lot of firsthand testimony as to the enormity and the significance of this…

Bobby Jindal, Tim Pawlenty, Huntsman, Romney... Charlie Crist. There's a lot of governors out there who... are young and dynamic. And there's -- Mitt Romney did a great job.