Tom Carper

States are laboratories for democracy.

I am convinced that this is the right decision in that it provides the proper balance between cost and the taxpayers' dollars and a mission that is critical to our country.

I would certainly be willing to share some best practices that we have learned over time to help reduce cost.

If we are going to invest this type of money, we want to make sure that we have a facility that is good for the next 10, 20, 30, 40 years.

I mentioned Dover Air Force Base earlier. We think it is the best airlift base in the world.

Actually, seriously, when he first said the number, I thought $80 to $90 million sounded, frankly, for 10 years, a little bit low.

I did not want to waste taxpayers' money in Delaware, and I certainly do not want to waste money here today.

Completing St. Elizabeth's will save, we are told by the General Services Administration (GSA), will save over a billion dollars during the course of the next 30 years.

Our job is to do oversight and to try to make sure that we are looking out for taxpayers.

In conclusion, I would just say, colleagues, GAO looks like they may have something for us in a month or so.

I continue to support the consolidation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters at St. Elizabeth's.

So just make sure that you really button down and continue to do good work there.

How can we ensure that the good work in property reform, spearheaded both by the last administration and by this administration, continues on into the next administration, the next year and a half, and beyond?

Trust in relationships is so important.

I just want to thank you for what you do.

Legislation that I have introduced here would make it possible for people in the District of Columbia to actually be represented with voting members in the Senate and the House.

I am helping to put a man on the moon.

Integrity, if you have it, nothing else matters.

I am troubled by the fact that the folks here pay taxes, they serve in the military, and they have many responsibilities of citizenship, but they do not get a vote in the House or Senate.

The Committee will come to order.

I am going to just go back and talk a little bit about--and we have already dealt with this a little bit, but I just want to revisit it again if I could.

I promise you, when you come back before this Committee, you will hear about it again.

Senator Lankford and I are big Golden Rule believers; treat other people the way we want to be treated.

Usually, it takes that long for us to clear our throats in the Senate.

It was a smart move on his part.