Madam Speaker, I rise today on National Teacher Appreciation Day with an oft-forgotten remedy to our economic downturn: investments in early childhood education. Successful nations invest in three things: infrastructure, research, and…

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because last week my district experienced its second ``storm of the century'' in the last 3 years, its third since 2008. More than 7 inches of rain turned the streets of Hinsdale, Elmhurst, Franklin Park, and…

Mr. Speaker, the founder of Earth Day, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, was asked in 2005, just before his death at the age of 89, if Earth Day should be celebrated. ``Our work is not finished,'' he replied. ``There's a lot more that…

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Chicago Blackhawks television announcer Pat Foley, who is celebrating his 30th season with the team. As the voice of the Blackhawks, Pat has come to define the Chicago hockey experience. In fact, it's…

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call for continued reforms to our health care system. The Affordable Care Act was a huge step in the right direction, but we can do more because the path we are on is unsustainable. The U.S. spends…

Priorities aside, why is it so difficult to retain the personnel needed?

Thank you, again, Mr. Chairman.

When we look back, what are the questions when we say, why didn't it get done sooner?

The President made a directive to the entire Federal family, and that was, find ways to cut through red tape.

If we had this hearing in 6 months, a year, 2 years, at each point what would you tell us percentagewise how much has returned to normal, how much has been rebuilt?

I guess the only question is not whether it is getting done; it is, how the heck do we get it done by 2015?