Sam Farr

Our oath of office is to provide for a check and balance on all things, private and public.

This discussion can be seen as awkward because you are coming in and asking for a 52 percent increase in a climate where all we are doing is cutting, squeezing, and trimming everything.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is an unsung hero of American fiscal stability.

I am not endorsing the transfer yet, until there are assurances that the program will stay intact and will not be raided by other foreign aid interests.

Make no mistake about it, that increased jurisdiction was absolutely essential.

I think as a former Governor and mayor, you understand local government.

I think this next decade is essentially one where the Federal Government, because of lack of increased resources, financial resources, is going to be stuck.

I think you haven't got credit for what you are doing in trying to focus on a strategy for rural America in developing the rural economy.

I appreciate your leadership in protecting the ocean side of NOAA in this budget.

So what we are basically asking for is a restoration of money to the system that has been cut.

Reducing NOAA's coastal and ocean funding has dire economic consequences for our constituents.

Your investments in these science agencies is what allows that to happen.

America has the capital, the drive, and the creativity at a level that far surpasses any other nation in the world.

The only way it will have American innovation to go into is through federal investments in innovation.

We have let this nation down, this institution, and now, we are talking about disaster recovery.

Sequestration is only a decision, and it was a decision that Congress made. They didn't have to make it.

I hope that the committee would really focus on what we are talking about, particularly with school lunch programs and school snack programs.

I wish we had ability to have reviews, revisions of the law, essentially is what you need...

The reason people didn't get access is because it is difficult--we have made it difficult to prove that you are poor.

If you are going to have a hiring freeze, what do you do about filling those vacancies in areas where you have a high percentage of vacancy?

I have to say that walking in this building, this whole process of sequestration just infuriates me.

Like you, I am very concerned about the impact of the March 1 sequester on the American economy.

I thank the distinguished gentleman for his response. I had hoped to attach to the bill language directing DOD to conduct a review, but in the interest of the House rules and jurisdictional matters, I chose not to.

I want to have a colloquy between myself, the chairman, and the gentleman from Washington on an issue regarding costs associated with the security clearance process.

(Mr. FARR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)