There unfortunately seems to be a need for better coordination of the Federal Government activities in the border region.

I want to urge you... to make sure that the competition between the agencies of the Federal Government that we noted there be brought to a rapid halt.

I support the Administration's initiative to clamp down on smuggling-related crime and violence at the U.S.-Mexican border.

we will never find our way out of this recession unless we are aggressively identifying creditworthy emerging businesses.

Our hearing today is looking to provide a snapshot on the impact of manufacturing closures on North Louisiana communities.

we are absorbing the risk and are in a position to be able to do it.

Under education and training, the State has received $718 million through the Economic Recovery Act for education and training.

Both Senator Snowe and I believe it should be elevated to a Cabinet level position.

I think that we have to very strongly consider the flexibility required in our laws today to try to accommodate as many of the families' choices that are very tough choices that these families are making and really honor the family unity…

I am often asked to extend H-2B visas to people coming in with special skills, and I am happy to accommodate the industry of a State that continues to cry for skilled workers.

I want our manufacturing sector in the whole Nation to be strengthened.

I think there is another story to be told.

I hope that the series of these hearings will help develop some strategy and call attention to some of these issues.

I support the goals of the program. I want to try to make sure that the quality of this program and the effectiveness is made stronger.

I understand that there is a requirement, I believe, a 30,000 gap in the number of nurses required in Louisiana right now.

North Louisiana has been especially hard hit, in particular, in the last year alone, with more than 2,000 manufacturing-related layoffs.

So I think that our laws, particularly as from our perspective, from Louisiana's perspective, need to really be sensitive to the many challenges that families are dealing with to stay intact and to keep that check or checks coming through…

It seems to me that a very smart strategy might be to eliminate whatever barriers and obstacles there are right now to training nurses required to meet that requirement.

I suggested that maybe the SBA and the USDA could work more in partnership.

the recovery package--and President Obama and his administration feel very strongly about this and have invested $7 billion for the Nation.

I think it is very important for small business to have a seat at the table when these major negotiations are going on.

I strongly believe that the SBA Administrator should have a seat at the table on important economic and financial matters in the Administration.

I have a long history of being deeply involved in small business.

I want to thank Senator Cardin, who will be with us later this morning.

I strongly support mending, not ending, the program.