Daniel Akaka

You have really increased my confidence in SEC and in our country's financial community.

I am delighted to be here to say aloha to Mary Schapiro and, of course, to your lovely family.

Without question, you have my support. But I thank you so much for what you have done already.

If you look at the Navy in its entirety, it's a representative mix of America's society. But if you look at the leadership, it tends to be very white male.

I agree with Admiral Roughead, and appreciate his leadership in pursuing diversity throughout the Navy.

I am asking this as chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I have been working on what I am calling a seamless transition.

I believe our greatest challenge as we move to the future has to do with those unseen wounds, so to speak, the wounds of stress, the wounds of injury, traumatic to the brain.

If I am confirmed, what I would like to do is to make sure that the Congress and DOD see the relationship as not adversarial, but as working together toward a common goal.

We cannot overstate the importance of our work.

If confirmed, each of you will face, without question, enormous challenges in DOD.

I feel that the men and women of the Pacific Command have maintained a remarkable level of stability.

Since 2002, 61 former detainees have committed or are suspected to have committed attacks after being released from the detention camp.

The Strategic Framework and Status of Forces Agreement symbolized a major step toward Iraq assuming full responsibility for its security.

It is imperative that we support our forward-deployed forces engaged in current operations but we must not overlook other important developments in the international system.

As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management and the Federal Workforce of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I am committed to making far greater use of telecommunicating opportunities…

Thank you, and for the record, can you please report back to the Committee with a preliminary plan of action within 60 days?

The only way we can do in America what we do is because you all have done what you all did--protecting us and this country and giving us this quality-of-life.

As upsetting as such mistakes are, the public's trust in VA comes from its willingness to disclose those errors.

Every organization needs an unquestioned leader and I am anxious to have you assume that role at VA as soon as feasible.

I want to say aloha and welcome to you, Ms. Duckworth.

I hope that you know that we will be supporting you in your efforts to make this Agency all it can be to support the veterans that served this country so very, very well.

I have a high expectation of what 'seamless transition' means.

I would urge you to be very imaginative as you enter into this role as to how we communicate, again, not just with veterans but with veterans' families who are absolutely crucial in every case to the healing process, both physically and…

There must be trust and confidence in VA if it is to serve the veterans effectively.

I applaud your commitment to achieve that goal responsibly, as well.