I am trying to get at the fraud or abuse of the funds, whether or not that project really was a worthy recovery type of project.

How can the Committee and the Congress as a whole aid in your efforts to implement the Recovery Act?

I just hope and pray that we will be able to execute on that bar that we have set.

if these dollars come into the community, and none of them get into those underserved and minority communities, then there is going to be--here again, this is what we are looking at; it is all at the top.

Well, in Illinois, they are coming to me saying how can they get their local businesses to get a piece of this action.

Can we look at that now? We have about 18 months, you said, isn't it? No, 12 months.

If you could let me know what the States' position is going to be for these underserved communities, minority businesses, or the local community municipalities.

But right now I am getting all the heat from it. I was getting calls in yesterday about how do we get a piece of the stimulus? I mean, that is all I am hearing from my constituents.

Individuals are going to be a little skeptical now that their identity could be swiped so easily.

But you know what will be reported, the sensational story where the one person got away with a major contract.

I think about the fraud issue and abuse issue, and being a former attorney general of my State, would certainly say that you have to look for those type of resources.

So if there is a second round, I would like to stick around and raise these questions.

Will you be following that piece of it with your authority under the National Governors Association, how they are following up with the minority piece?

Do you have an example of any entity that you know about that might be an example of what is taking place?

I want to know whether or not any of the Federal guidelines... have to follow any type of guidelines with reference to those minority requirements.

Congratulations. Please work with my former colleagues. The attorneys general are really taking----

Now, are you talking about small minority businesses?

Are there any new ways we can employ to combat undercounting typically underrepresented--any technology.

What my constituents are going to--how this stimulus money is going to impact the black community...

The Federal Government is letting out contracts with contracting agencies to help track these funds...

The reason why Illinois got the money so early is because we already had projects.

But wouldn't we do better if we could get some type of upfront requirement before that money--whether or not the Federal Government would have any authority to oversee prior to the signing to rebuild I-75.

Because we cannot make any mistakes here. This is our last shot at the public coming down on us.

As we approach what projections indicate will be the most expensive Census in history, we must assure that sound leadership aids its execution.

We need to have everyone counted and my assessment of that is that there is a way of doing it.