Richard Blumenthal

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The growing awareness of the severity and the frequency of these crimes will properly result, hopefully, in greater enforcement, tougher enforcement, more stringent penalties.

The expression of the community's intolerance for violence resulting from bigotry and bias and hatred is very much a proper and appropriate measure to take

So, really, it is a multifaceted challenge.

So in effect, you're saying you don't have the authority that exists under the FDA Act that applies to a pharmaceutical drug manufacturer.

Would you like that authority?

Thank you, Senator Corker, and my thanks to you for holding this hearing today and focusing on an issue that I think has not only financial and fiscal implications, but also potential dangers for consumers and the integrity of the entire…

I introduced the Community College Innovation Act, a bill that would encourage community colleges to develop job training programs that lead to an industry-recognized credential in a high-growth industry.

I think that some finality and certainty and commitment is to be expected.

You hope that some of it will occur in 2013? Maybe you could just repeat that. You hope that it will occur in 2013?

There was a deadline that was set.

Transparency is crucial for accountability in the healthcare system.

The insurance companies, from what I've understood and heard here today, continue to be a problem, a problem in the sense that they are still resistant to providing coverage in many instances.

I'm very hopeful that the measure that I proposed and that Senator Gillibrand has co-sponsored and others around the country--it is a bipartisan coalition.

I am pleased to submit this testimony to the permanent record of the hearing of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

The advisory committee giving patients and victims a seat at the table, giving them a voice to be heard, I think will help to increase awareness in the medical community.

Are we making progress? You know, are we making any strides in combating and fighting this disease?

In your view, what can be done to increase the reporting, the reliability and the completeness of reporting?

Do you think that habitat control measures are a viable solution here?

I really congratulate you for opening it up to all tick-borne diseases.

I'm not a scientist, and I'm not a doctor. I'm not a researcher.

Thank you, each of you, for your testimony.

You need to know what the dimensions of the problem are to fight it.

So it is expanding across the country.

In the meantime, thank you so much for being here today. It has enormous meaning. Thank you.