Upon enactment of S. 1011, would Native Hawaiians be subject to the laws of the United States?

We do have distinct Hawaiian communities.

2009 is the year that Congress should enact S. 1011.

an essential component of the next Surface Transportation Reauthorization will be increasing the availability of resources to repair, upgrade, and expand rail transit systems.

Well, thank you very much for that.

We are looking forward to that, especially because so many things have happened in the past 2 years.

I believe solid training and mentoring are crucial in molding successful teachers.

As a former music teacher, I believe these types of classes are valuable for young people.

This position is an important one to this Committee because it is a key office for promoting transparency and collaboration between VA and Congress.

The brave men and women who leave their jobs to serve our country deserve our help finding good jobs when they return.

It is my firm belief that only someone with qualifications such as those possessed by Dr. Petzel could meet the challenges facing the next VA Under Secretary for Health.

I am hopeful that our two Committees, then the full Senate, will move expeditiously to consider Mr. Jefferson's nomination.

I hope you find me worthy.

The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs will come to order.

As modern medicine is able to save more lives on the battlefield than ever before, VA is facing new challenges in adapting to the needs of the most seriously injured.

Together, we have to find a way to make the transition from soldier to citizen a smoother one.

Highly publicized failures of VA to deliver quality health care, and a lack of accountability at high levels for those failures, have impacted veterans' confidence in the system.

I intend to do all that I can to bring it to the full Senate during this legislative period.

I think it is very important that we strengthen them and I would see this national structure and accountability for having working relationships with affiliates set up at the network level as being important steps.

I recognize the need and importance of ensuring appropriate oversight measures are in place for Federal contracts.

I appreciate the opportunity.

If REAL ID is implemented, these databases could provide one-stop shopping for identity thieves and become the backbone for a national identification card.

I have been a longtime opponent of REAL ID due to concerns about protecting individuals' privacy as well as the States' inability to implement the burdensome program.

We must act to fix REAL ID. States simply still cannot afford the $4 billion it would take to implement REAL ID.

REAL ID calls on the States to collect and electronically store individuals' personal records when issuing licenses and to share that information with every department of motor vehicles (DMV) nationwide.