Richard Blumenthal

Well, can you commit to me when you will complete that task? You've missed the deadline. When will it be done?

You are the face of that failure.

I think you have sensed from the reaction of this subcommittee on both sides of the aisle that there is a question here about the record.

But you would support the legislation that I proposed to remove that cap and others on this committee have supported it as well?

I think that there has to be a more realistic attitude about what the real-life consequences are of the agency's performance.

But wouldn't you agree with me that that maximum fine is wholly inadequate as a measure of their failure?

I don't think it was a shrug. I don't think it was a nod. I think it was a NHTSA snooze.

I'd also like to ask you what you feel--taking up Senator Klobuchar's argument--what you feel can be done to expand the resources that you devote to investigation of defects.

So you do support that legislation. I'm delighted to hear that you will support it, if that's your testimony.

Well, I would like a more solid date.

Your supposed watchdog agency had neither bark nor bite and, in fact, led consumers to have a false sense of security.

What should we be doing to support additional infrastructure, which I consider to be the challenge of our time?

Thanks, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to you and Ranking Member Thune for having this hearing on a profoundly important issue.

When a freight train railroad network breaks down, it affects not only the movement of important goods--and a number of my colleagues have described how important it is--but it keeps real people and their families from getting to where…

The deterrent purpose of a criminal investigation, prosecution, and conviction is irreplaceable.

When I was a U.S. Attorney, I would say to investigative agents, some of the best in the Nation, 'Here is my timeline.'

Well, hopefully not forever.

People need it now when they need it.

I know that much well.

I know that in response to Senator Tester's question, Inspector General Griffin, you mentioned that these individual cases will be turned over to prosecutors if criminal violations are found.

In effect, the prosecutors will be making those decisions, just as they would with any investigative agency, whether it be the FBI or the Drug Enforcement Administration.

I want to thank Secretary Hagel for now initiating a new era when those records can be corrected.

I want to say that I hope that we will continue to be of a mind that this health care system is in crisis.

I want to thank the VA for its support in efforts that I and others have made to correct the records of veterans of past wars.

We are here to listen to you, not so much to talk.