Mario Díaz-Balart

We kind of assume that China is a, you know, trading partner like India, when, in fact, they are not.

I look forward to continuing to work with you on these very important issues.

Well, let me first, Madam Administrator and Mr. Executive Director, thank you for your time.

I think it is important to note that. And that is greatly appreciated.

I have personally witnessed the devastation in Florida, throughout different parts of the State, and particularly in the district that I am privileged to represent.

And obviously when you think of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, where the damage is obviously large, particularly large relative to the size of their regular highway programs, and potentially waiting years to get reimbursed might be…

I was actually, in a positive way, taken aback about the numbers that you gave from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

the Emergency Relief Program...has an obligation backlog.

We need to make sure that the full, appropriate Federal commitment is there for the long-term recovery.

So let me ask you, so if the request were not to be adequate to cover the current shortfall, and then so how will any new costs associated with the 2017 storm damage be addressed?

We cannot forget them and we do not forget them, and we wish their full recoveries.

I am encouraged by President Trump's commitment to improving infrastructure.

And, again, it is important to know who your allies are and treat them as allies and who your adversaries and enemies are and confront them like that.

Would it be fair to say that the United States is now going to be leading from the front, not from the rear?

These are hard realities that we in Congress, the Republican majority--this is why I believe Donald Trump was elected, because people are sick and tired of the debt, of the deficit, of the inaction, the refusal of the Congress and the…

I just hope that we keep the pressure on because I do think that China plays the long ball, a long game, and sometimes I think that they are playing with us.

I believe we should probably not be treating folks whose utilities are not paid in HUD programs differently.

I appreciate you taking a hard look at these programs, Mr. Secretary.

I have drawn a very bright line to really my opposition to transferring air traffic control systems to what in essence is a corporate monopoly.

I fear that we are, you know, to quote, this is almost like deja vu all over again with the North Korea nuclear plan.

I just question whether somebody is wondering what the effect of that is going to be, and when is the breaking point going to be when--you know, when people like me from my district say, you know what, just can't fund it anymore.

I have always thought that if China ever got serious about curtailing North Korea's nuclear ambitions or their rogue attitude, that could have a lot more influence.

Chairman Rogers has been very, strong about making sure that funds, U.S. taxpayer funds, don't go to, for example, members of a terrorist organization, the FARC.

If anybody has any question about the importance of what one person can do with clarity and leadership, they just have to look your way.

It is such a breath of fresh air to have somebody with your clarity and somebody who is willing to speak out and once again put the United States on the right side of history.