When Medicare Advantage came into effect in 2003, there was, in fact, the movement to privatize Medicare happened.

we all want to see the money spent in the most effective way, and whether that means a little more discretion for the agency may accomplish that is something we certainly should be taking a look at.

If we can improve that by improving the K-12 education and preschool as well, we'll do better.

I think the only way to reach a goal like that is really through the community colleges.

So I'm hearing two things. I'm hearing allocate the grant dollars differently or at least look into whether we want to allocate differently.

We also know our current college completion rates. We've got about 55 percent completing within 6 years.

We've got to get more people into school, post-secondary. We've got to get more of them out, that is, all the way through.

I fully understand the notion just to say let's put more money into the program. But we're also going to have to find some scale here.

I know that you are committed to improving the equipment and making sure we meet the highest safety standards.

Now, the FTA was supposed to issue objective standards by October 1 of 2013 and it has not done so yet.

I particularly appreciate your working on the safety standards on the Red Line.

Transit asset management was a new and welcomed addition to MAP-21.