Mary Landrieu

The bipartisan bill that Chair Landrieu and Senator Snowe introduced yesterday changes the authorization of the grant amounts from a maximum of $150,000 to a minimum of $150,000.

Trade and export promotion is really an important piece of this.

I want to keep this as convenient and as easy, informative, because taxpayers do have a right to know of every dollar we are investing in these programs, what is the return, and if we can't justify it, we are going to end the program.

I want to thank Senator Landrieu and Senator Snowe for these important bills.

On Monday, I also introduced a bill, S. 1196, the Small Business International Trade Enhancement Act.

We need somebody at a very high level advocating for small businesses, not only in trade negotiations

I think all of us understand that small business is the backbone of our economy.

Let us look at the efficiency of the appropriations and what it is--how it is measuring across the board.

I would like to say we are ready, but I am telling you we are not, in any number of areas that we have heard about today.

It becomes a very significant issue for any country, whether it is China or India or other countries that we have seen go through some horrific catastrophic disasters.

It is hard to tell them that there is another priority.

This is not just what Senator Landrieu thinks might happen. This is what our government and scientists believe is probable to happen.

I am going to call a hearing for earthquakes particularly.

I think that your urgency to continue this funding and this legislation speaks to the need of American people.

I will continue to make my voice heard to the President and to the leadership.

If you do not have a number to dial to get information... we are in for a very serious situation here.

The documented difference in the response in that very urbanized region of our country was vivid.

I think it speaks to the urgency of this Calling for 2-1-1 Act that you are supporting.

There are gaps along our Gulf Coast, all the way up to Delaware, Long Island, New York; rural Georgia; North Carolina; and the Panhandle of Florida.

The Calling for 2-1-1 Act, Senator, is critical.

Is the Nation ready? But it is important for, at least, the Federal framework to be clear.

I agree 100 percent with what you said, but I also would stress that it is important for the Federal Government to be able to function, and to function efficiently and well.

We have got to address the broader issue of what are we going to do if, God forbid, we have 200,000 Americans that are homeless again?

This whole idea about getting to defining the objective rather than defining the process.

So what is your explanation today of that?