Roland Burris

In some of our smaller communities where there are Federal facilities, I wonder if there have been any tests in small communities.

So this is what our combatants over there are trying to deal with it?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I am listening to this excellent testimony and thought I knew a lot until now.

It makes our job that much harder, and then we end up launching a drone or a missile, and 18 or 19 civilians are killed, and then we are the bad guys.

I am especially concerned about the impact of diabetes on the minority population.

We need to continue to educate and reach out to minorities that have not had access to the benefits of the research.

I am not going to agree with any unfunded mandates here.

I think it is a good idea.

Even if you had a corporation that was incorporated in Illinois, it still has to have a registered agent and you still look to the registered agent of that corporation, have the responsibility on that entity that is called the agent of…

I just want to make sure I get the legal basis clear.

Would we have to change State laws to some extent in this regard or would Federal laws be able to strongly suggest ways that they have gotten around the 10th Amendment for States to take certain actions?

I am just trying to see if this Administration's position is that the whistleblower should not have a jury trial if they are involved in one of the security agencies.

I am looking at this, and in one of the testimonies... it called for reviewing past cases.

The House version of this bill calls for protection for Federal contractors, and this would be a broad expansion of the existing law.

We think it would be an inappropriate venue for these cases for a variety of reasons.

I am taking it beyond the agency. I am taking it to some arbitrating body.

I just hope that that data I requested of you will be broken down by categories--Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, women--in terms of their ability to have received--and you can select a period of time--these projects.

I would like to know specifically what minorities have gotten any work on contracts or any of the VA projects-- minorities and women--and what is your percentage of that; and how is your process in reference to selecting those particular…

And I just wondered whether any of that has been brought to your level as of yet.

The Department of Defense (DOD) and Congress must seriously come to grips with the looming shortfall

I was down at the University of Illinois, which has the fastest computer, Madam Chairman, in the whole country.

I think the general public has no idea of the preparation and planning that goes into these disaster.

So you say your request also could be from FEMA to you.

I just hope that we can get some assistance on that.

Well, now, if they are retired officials and they are on a pension, would they come back and have to deal with their pension arrangements with the Federal Government?