Dianne Feinstein

I would like to introduce Orange County Superior Court Judge Josephine Tucker.

It is concerning to me that some of the hardest-hit areas of the country... have been entirely left out for funding under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

This raises serious concerns to me that a Federal program designed to stabilize and rehabilitate the hardest-hit communities could have completely overlooked the Nation's epicenter for foreclosures.

I have been at this for many years now. When do you think we will have a system where we will be able to know if visa waiver travelers have left the country?

To be candid with you, there still is no way to know if people have left.

I am really concerned that we may be unwittingly presiding over the demise of American agriculture.

I think the fact that these men are going to be tried in the finest of the American judicial system by strong prosecutors and by a fair judge is really very, very important.

Would you take a look at my legislation? And your support would be appreciated.

I fully support it. I have been on this Committee for 17 years now. I happen to believe that our Federal courts are our finest.

The Settlement has two goals--restore the river system and salmon fishery and avoid or reduce water supply impacts to CVP contractors.

Loss of salmon is, frankly, a disaster for our state.

We cannot risk any further declines. People's livelihoods and families are at stake.

There should be no objection to this legislation as a very practical kind of no nonsense way to facilitate water use in a valley that's really hard pressed.

We appreciate the encouragement we have received from the authors of the legislation to provide suggested language improvements

This is signaling kind of new day for us.

It's viable. It's voluntary transfers. It's from people who have enough water who are willing to transfer it to those who do not.

The bill, this bill which is co-sponsored by Senator Boxer would facilitate additional water transfers of up to 250,000 to 300,000 acre feet in California's Central Valley which has been particularly hard hit by prolonged drought.

The Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009 is one step in a host of efforts to bring more water to the San Joaquin Valley amidst of a three-year drought and ongoing water crisis.

I will not do this unless there is tangible evidence that we are beginning to head in a better direction.

I also believe if the commission is only Members of Congress, they will be subject to so much importuning by various groups.

I thank you for those comments.

I will not vote for raising the debt limit without a vehicle to handle this.

I feel, as does Senator Voinovich, I will vote for this.

Thank you for taking the time to hold this hearing and provide the opportunity for testimony on these important matters.

I am deeply concerned about the medical insurance marketplace. I believe it lacks a moral compass.