I really am appreciative of this hearing, as I mentioned to you yesterday on the floor.

I know I have been pushing for our port security grants to continue for another year because I still feel like our ports are a vulnerable entryway into this country.

It is clear that you and the entire Small Business Administration is working... to support our small businesses and try to get the capital into the hands of startups.

I just want to go on record to say, again, my concern will always be on this committee as well as Homeland Security Committee--I mean, on the subcommittee, is that our sea ports, I believe are still an extremely vulnerable entry way into…

I think this is really becoming such a key focus for this Congress, and certainly it is a key focus for the American people.

We really believe... that if small businesses, even the really small ones, would hire even one person, we know that we could really reduce the unemployment rate in this country.

Interoperability is a problem that was identified when we heard the 9/11 report card in the Homeland Security Committee.

This is my first subcommittee meeting, but I am really looking forward to serving on the subcommittee as I think the issues are extremely important and extremely relevant to my district at home.

I had just been elected to the city council of Los Angeles, and my council district includes the Port of Los Angeles.