Joe Lieberman

I believe that the President's budget for DOD is a budget that recognizes the times of economic stress we are going through particularly with regard to our national deficits and debt but also meets our defense needs.

I hope it would make my colleagues, as we invest in this program, confident that there are statistically significant bottom lines.

I cannot tell you the number of calls I have received from parents who are distraught.

You have been our champion over the years and we appreciate you and Ranking Member Collins.

To borrow a line from Malcolm X, we must educate our children 'by any means necessary.'

The essence of the program, Mr. Chairman, is in its name: Opportunity.

This is not an ideological battle, it is a battle for civil rights.

I served on the D.C. Council for 12 years. I was chairman of the education committee. I am a lifelong Democrat.

It takes three to tango here in the Congress--which is to say the President, the Senate, and the House--to get anything adopted.

We have had frustrating times the last few years as we have not succeeded in adding new students to this critically important program, but we are not giving up because we believe in it so deeply.

The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program is a resounding academic success.

At the end of the day it is not about protecting the system... it is about giving our children an equal opportunity.

I have to tell you that I have never understood the Secretary's reasoning in that regard and it suggests to me a political decision and not one that is based on a fair valuation of the program.

I cannot state how deeply he feels this. He wanted to get it right in, and as far as I know, it may be the only piece of legislation he will put his name to this year.

That is about the worst argument I have ever heard.

I am really grateful for the opportunity to appear before you now, not from my customary seat, in order to introduce Dr. Ash Carter.

If anything, over the last 2 years I think Ash Carter has strengthened his case, the case for him to assume at this particular time this extraordinary position.

I appreciate that. That's a very balanced answer and I think you have your anxieties well in control.

As long as we have those soldiers there, we're going to do whatever we have to do to protect them.

With its nuclear activities and its surrogate activities in southern Iraq, there is a high potential that Iran will make a serious miscalculation of U.S. resolve.

If we don't show that we recognize that the Nation has a significant economic problem and then do our part, whatever that part may be, to help solve it, we will be seen as simply putting up barriers and defending ourselves against what…

It was on whether or not the Fort Hood shootings could have been prevented.

This is a tough time to cut the military budget drastically because we are at war.

The third leg of the stool is we have an All-Volunteer Force with whom we must keep faith.

I think the cumulative effect is that you are really a very impressive group.