Richard Blumenthal

The Federal Government can have an immediate impact and safeguard the long-term vitality of the Northeast region by investing.

Any surface transportation reauthorization practice has to be multimodal and has to address rail priorities.

The fundamental point here is that the Federal Government needs to continue to lead the way in making the investments our country and economy demand.

Moreover, the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which supports the country's vast highway and transit network, is expected to go insolvent even sooner.

Making the right investments and the right choices helps to improve safety and reliability.

This is increasingly known as the highway cliff.

So it's critical that we act soon.

This all shows that many are eager to address our transportation needs.

It's an important week for transportation.

The current surface transportation bill, MAP-21, expires at the end of September.

The failure here is more than just an isolated or aberrant kind of instance or wrongdoing. It involves the system itself and involves potential criminal wrongdoing. There is more than allegations, there is evidence.

The ultimate outcome here is going to be continued crashes and potential deaths or injuries unless action is taken now.

NHTSA really was almost complicit in its laxity and lapse of oversight.

I'm going to ask that that information, all the testing, both GM's and NHTSA, be made available publicly right now.

I find that not only alarming but appalling.

In that April 30 notice, it said, 'If your car is jostled or jolted, it's possible for the key to move from `run' to `accessory'.'

General Dempsey, how much money has yet to be paid to Rosoboronexport for the 16 remaining helicopters?

General Dempsey, what is the cost of the current contract?

Over each of the past 10 years, what percentage of your respective Service has been prescribed an opiate medication for a chronic condition

I would like to gain clarity on these numbers.

General Dempsey, I understand that $120.0 million is spent each year on the repairs and maintenance for the Mi-17 helicopters owned by the Afghanistan security forces.

What procedural measures have been implemented within your respective Service to mitigate risk with regard to prescription of opiate medication?

In addition to Mi-17 and RD-180, the United States is engaged with Russia concerning contracts in several areas.

General Dempsey, I understand that 16 Mi-17 helicopters have yet to be delivered by Rosoboronexport to the Government of Afghanistan to fulfill the remainder of the current contract.

In my opinion, that is the bigger issue, sir.