Richard Blumenthal

I hope that you will continue to focus not only on Positive Train Control but on very significant other rail safety issues.

Rail safety in the United States is sorely lacking. And there will continue to be catastrophes, often with fatal results and tremendous costs, if the nation fails to do better.

I will be quick, Mr. Chairman. My main reason for speaking is to say how fervently I support passenger rail in South Dakota.

I want to focus in the short time I have remaining on the need for greater oversight on the Hartford Line.

I strongly support the railroad-by-railroad, year-by-year, vigilant oversight approach, which I believe was embodied in the GROW AMERICA Act.

Thank you for the breath of fresh air that you have already brought to the FRA. Your diligence and determination have made a significant difference already in the enforcement and the vigilance and vigor of oversight by an agency that has…

I am deeply troubled that the sanctions relief in this proposed agreement will allow banks engaged in terror financing back into SWIFT and global commerce.

I think that one of the very important points you make is that we can agree or disagree that a better agreement could and should have materialized.

The challenge will be to mobilize our partners in that effort.

I think the Nation owes you its gratitude for the hard work that you have done.

I think that is a very, very promising idea and I would like to work with you on the legislative changes and enlist the VA.

The American Legion believes we can reach functional zero by continuing the path VA has embarked upon with their Five Year Plan.

The change in practice that has been adopted by the Department of Defense at my request...

Just to thank our witnesses for your being here today and for your service to our Nation. Thank you.

I hope that you can commit to work with us on this matter, because I think not only decrying and describing the problem, but doing something about it is really what is necessary.

The numbers that Chairman Isakson recited before are a searing indictment of our Nation, the greatest, strongest nation in the history of the world.

Veterans Housing Stability Act of 2015 that I introduced today.

One out of ten men and women on the streets today without a roof over their head is a veteran, having served and sacrificed for our Nation.

In the midst of all the focus on health care and delays in delivering health services, we should not lose sight of the importance of homelessness as well as joblessness.

I have introduced a measure called the Veterans Housing Stability Act of 2015 with my colleagues, Senators Brown, Sanders, and Hirono.

Modifying the VA program so that you could use homes from VBA's foreclosure inventory.

It has been a real privilege and honor to work with you.

I ask that my colleagues join in this collaboration because I know how deeply you and I feel, how we share that common goal, not just in our committee. I ask that we work to incorporate the measure I have introduced today, S. 1856, with…

Corruption is not a game. It is deadly serious. It is criminal and it betrays the trust of fans.

I was astonished and troubled to learn that men's teams that exited in the very first round of the competition in the World Cup were paid $8 million, an amount 400 percent greater than what the women world champions were awarded.