Joe Lieberman

The purpose of these hearings is to examine how well the national security reforms implemented in the wake of 9/11 are working.

Facebook had provided them with what I might call the weapons in their peaceful revolution.

Senators, we want to ask you if you could help us to get one American who we would most like to come and speak to us here in Tunisia.

This success required intense and focused cooperation among key intelligence agencies and the Defense Department.

It has been a rational and mutually respectful discussion.

Thank you for coming here, which took some effort, and contributing to our oversight.

If, however, you are moved by the aggregates, then I would urge you to look at the document that Senator Whitehouse referred to earlier.

Codification is such an important thing. It will signal to the agencies, again, culturally that this is important.

Senator Collins and I have waded into such storms before and emerged on our feet and hopefully with some rational response.

Thanks, Senator Whitehouse. That was really most interesting to me, and I suppose I have always felt that what you are describing as regulatory capture existed, regardless of which party was in control of the White House.

The question is not whether to regulate, because there is and should be regulation, but it is how best to regulate.

Not whether to regulate but how to regulate

When Chairman Lieberman and I weighed in on behalf of small businesses, OSHA withdrew that proposal.

President Obama launched an initiative 6 months ago, which is continuing to date.

This is a hearing on 'Federal Regulation: How Best to Advance the Public Interest.'

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I do know it is broadly agreed that the benefits of the Clean Air Act, on balance, exceed the costs of the Clean Air Act.

I cannot resist, in continuing the Catholic-Jewish dialogue, recalling for the record--the first time I have had the honor to do this--that almost 10 years ago, there were eight or nine Senators--Senator McCain was with us--who went over…

I have not yet met anybody who does not think there should be some regulation.

This legislation calls for greater transparency when it comes to the cost and performance of our Nation's information technology investments.

The time for lazy or wasteful management of these expensive investments is over.

We are going to demand that projects be on time, on budget, and deliver on their promises.

The President and Mr. Kundra should be commended for taking on this challenge, and I commend you today.

I will begin my opening statement and hope, with the inherent ability I have as a U.S. Senator to continue talking for long periods of time, that I will be able to fill the space between now and when Senator McCain arrives.

I think we will begin the hearing.