One of the things that makes it hard to compare mortgage systems across national boundaries is the very different loan-to-value limits that happen in different countries.

I was really, as I mentioned in my opening comments, surprised about the positive things said about the Danish system.

One impressive solution to the two fundamental questions of housing finance is the housing finance system of Denmark, as discussed in my written testimony and pointed out by Congressman Foster.

It is imperative that this Congress provide the agencies that are charged with policing the financial markets with the funding that they need.

I want to emphasize to my colleagues the importance of fully funding the SEC.

I just wanted to express my gratitude to Under Secretary Brainard for you making yourself available to me and my staff for a very good bipartisan meeting.

It is unreasonable and irresponsible to make these deep cuts in programs like investments in research and development.

If even a fraction of this money returned to the State, we would not have a fiscal crisis in Illinois at this moment.

I urge you to reverse the devastating cuts to education and R&D that have been enacted by sequestration.

Thank you, Mr. Larsen.

I urge the leadership of this committee to craft a budget that replaces the mindless cuts of the sequester with sensible investments.