Brian Schatz

Our budget hearings are critical so that we can understand the challenges that your agencies face.

Every worker deserves an equal voice and equal pay.

The bipartisan budget deal last year provided a much needed boost in discretionary funding, but next year, the caps are flat.

I think it is your job to ensure contract compliance, and it is Restaurant Associates' responsibility to not just go by the letter of the contract, but to understand they have a special obligation to their employees who are not paid enough…

In the United States Capitol, we have a special obligation to take care of the people who take care of us.

I still believe in libraries. I still believe in books.

I understand contract costs come in under. That is nothing to scold anybody about.

I support community planning strategies to create walkable neighborhoods and to take care of pedestrians.

I have heard from public housing authorities (PHAs) and a number of voucher holders on each of Hawaii's four counties who are frustrated that fair market rents are unrealistically low.

I'm very well aware of the challenge there in Honolulu particularly and on the West Coast more broadly.

I support the request for additional housing vouchers, but I want to understand how these vouchers are going to be allocated if funded.

Safe Streets: Secretary Foxx, as you know I support community planning strategies to create walkable neighborhoods that minimize pedestrian fatalities.

We are going to need your continued leadership, because one of the challenges that we have in Congress is that this has actually become, unfortunately, a partisan issue for some where it becomes a question of whether or not you support…

This fair market rent (FMR), the level that is set in terms of FMR, is just totally unrealistic.

We have made a lot of progress to help those who are suffering find treatment options that work for them.

I do not believe we're overprescribing it.

If you believe that these were improperly done do we have a remedy to recoup some portion of that money spent?

I know the VA is currently conducting research to see whether service dogs can provide therapeutic relief to those suffering from PTSD.

I know you've done a lot of work on destigmatization of mental illness and I know that you've done a lot of work in terms of staffing up and increasing access.

As we all know, the budget caps are flat between this year and the next, and yet almost all of the budget requests within the legislative branch are for increases in fiscal year 2017.

I think there is broad bipartisan consensus about the need for accountability.

I will certainly do whatever I can.

Are you asking for a change in the statute?

I am pleased to be here and thankful that we are moving forward with our second hearing on the Legislative Branch Subcommittee.

What is the new timeframe, and when do you anticipate being taken off the GAO's high-risk list?