Tom Carper

I think a good idea is to partner with all of these agencies.

He is not only a faithful attendant and participant in full Committee hearings, but he is a terrific Subcommittee Member.

Recognizing that terrorists are still targeting aviation and are constantly adapting and changing their methods, what are we doing to make sure that we are just as nimble as they are?

Uncovering this most recent air cargo plot and the failure of other attempted attacks over the years tells me that it has become increasingly difficult since September 11, 2001, for terrorists to exploit the vulnerabilities to our aviation…

Otherwise, we will end up like Greece, and it is not what I want.

People really want to feel like they are getting something done that is worthwhile.

It is good to know where your cash is. It is good to know where your equipment is.

I appreciate their efforts. As Eric said, we have learned a lot from the audit of their Statement of Budgetary Resources.

When I was a kid growing up, my father used to say to my sister and me... Just use some common sense.

It is a real frustration, just getting something done.

We must use correctly. You do not want to use it incorrectly. Used correctly it is a powerful tool.

We are going to have hearings. We are not going to have them every day or every week or every month on this subject, but we will have them at least every year if I get to be the Chairman of this Committee or Subcommittee for a little bit…

Let me just interrupt. My question of you was, what more--if you were sitting on this side of the dais, what more would you be doing than what we are now doing?

I want us to focus more on the need to stop doing that.

And you know what one of their slogans is in Missouri, the 'Show Me State.'

I am still cautiously optimistic. I am optimistic that we are going to get there.

One of the things I would like to encourage through the course of these hearings is when the Congress is doing things that, frankly, do not make common sense, that do not really add up, you need to tell us.

I am going to be around for at least a couple more years, maybe even beyond that.

A lot of the money we are spending is money that we go around the world borrowing.

Thank you, Mr. Hale. You are right, we have been promised things before on this front and not often seen those promises fulfilled.

I also understand the importance of ensuring that our Federal dollars are well spent, especially during a time of record budget deficits.

The programs to upgrade our military financial system so that we can track our dollars and ensure we spend money effectively are themselves behind schedule and over budget.

As a recovering Governor, I understand the unique challenges that come with running a major institution like the Department of Defense.

It is really this notion that we are spending all this money we do not have.

We will get there. It is just--it is difficult.