It is extraordinarily important that we maintain open and free dialogue and communicate.

I do not support across-the-board cuts like those mandated in the Budget Control Act.

Consideration of the fiscal year 2014 request must be put in proper context, as anomalies like FHA receipts and sequester make fair comparisons very challenging.

I really appreciate the conversations that we have. It is very, very important to try to reach the goals that we all have in mind.

These increases are particularly puzzling in the context of a request that also proposes to cut core state and local partnerships like CDGB and HOME.

There is no mandate, so you are doing just whatever you want to, any requirements you want to with the money.

This to me is pretty----

Thank you, Mr. Quigley.

After $10.5 billion and 5 years, do we have anything that looks like a nationwide investment in high-speed rail?

You have the checklist and standard. How much additional is this going to increase the cost of the repairs?

These are not decisions we wanted to make, but we had to make.