I think, rather significant increase in pre-disaster mitigation grants, that it is penny-wise and pound-foolish when we do not put money in on the front end to try to avoid the disasters and the expense of recovery.

I take the increase that the President has recommended as a testament to this Administration's commitment to the Department's critical mission of keeping our homeland safe.

We have allocated about $7.5 billion in the Gulf Coast for FEMA Public Assistance.

To expedite it, we have tried to--and I have inserted language into the Stimulus package on this--set up some sort of independent arbitration panel.

How are we making progress--I hope--in coming to some resolution on building safely in V-Zones so we can get post offices, hospitals, and schools, so we are not asking these communities to function without the framework necessary for them…

I urge you to request the U.S. Census Bureau develop a plan that will reach the undocumented and the documented the same way.

An incomplete and inaccurate Census denies Latinos a right granted by the Constitution of the United States.

Data collected in the U.S. Census affects how billions of dollars in Federal and State funding is given to communities that are suffering.

It will diminish the potential of this community and it will have a great impact on future generations of Latinos in this country.

It has been made very clear by the Obama administration that they have no intention of pursuing the used nuclear fuel repository at Yucca.

your partnership here is extremely powerful. And it is immensely encouraging to me and to my constituents

We need to refocus on more internal manufacturing capacity and, again, new technology because we are still using vaccination technology of a number of decades ago...

I wonder if there are some things that Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and the public health officials of the country could recommend...

Is there any role for the National Guard that any of you could foresee in this?

I know the primary debate, and it is an important debate, is how this is coordinated between agencies and who might take the lead role, but you have been very clear that there will be many agencies involved.

Let me ask you, has the Pentagon identified which branch of the Armed Services should take the lead on this effort?

I am urging this Committee to understand that in a major catastrophic disaster, the current amounts on the books are wholly inadequate to maintain basic operations.

I just want to bring this to the attention of this Committee, that moving communities is an option if the communities are small enough to move...

I am convinced that you are the right person for this job.

I think this area is still ripe for aggressive reform.

His is a wonderful face to see, and we in Louisiana so appreciate his voice at probably the most difficult time our State has ever faced.

This nominee will have my support, but I want you and the Ranking Member to know that I am going to be working weekly, as we rebuild our region in the Gulf Coast.

I cannot figure out why more of my colleagues do not appreciate just the numbers on this.

One of my goals is to get a highly qualified and well-trained reserve force for this Nation.

Will you use your authority to approve some construction for fire stations and police stations?