A stake was put in the ground as to progress across a period of time.

While I support the intent of NSLI, I felt that it was too limited to be truly effective.

We have got to do better.

I think that whole system today needs to be recalibrated in light of today's demands.

How long will it take before the State Department can expect to fully eliminate both its language and mid-level experience gaps?

Yes. Ambassador, we will look forward to that.

I urge the Department to follow GAO's recommendation to fill hardship post positions with at-grade officers.

The State Department's diplomatic readiness has been consumed by current operations and now it must focus on rebuilding its capabilities.

Before I call for questions from Senator Voinovich, let me finish this question by asking Ambassador Powell...

I believe it is important. The transparency, as General Clapper has mentioned, is critical, we must be held accountable on this.

Security clearance reform has been an important oversight priority for this Subcommittee.

General Clapper, you testified that the Department of Defense has begun to use electronic automatic adjudication...

I am particularly concerned about the lack of progress being made regarding reciprocity.

I have always believed that the Executive Branch could get DOD's clearance process off the High-Risk List, and I want to see that happen.

These standards had not been updated since 1995 and little has been said about the updates.

Thank you very much, Senator Burris. I will have a third round here...

There is always room for improvement.

It is important for the Committee to understand the remaining challenges.

I applaud the efforts of VA employees in Hawaii.

A big welcome to all of you. Thank you very much for your patience.

The recession has caused too many families in Hawaii to suffer from a job loss, a reduction in hours, a home foreclosure, a bankruptcy filing, an inability to obtain credit, or the elimination of state funding for an important social…

I was concerned, of course, when the legislation which was providing necessary State match drawdown of $15 million of Federal assistance that Senator Inouye and I also helped to secure was vetoed.

However, the pain that working families in Hawaii have felt would have been much worse had the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act not been enacted.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has already protected and created jobs, strengthened infrastructure...

Native Hawaiians are clearly a nation, both prior to and after contact with Europeans.