John Tierney

What seems more likely is that certain populations...will not receive the same level of service as they have had under current law.

And what the public would probably like to say is that we get a final bill where all sides feel that they were dealt with fairly and that the end product is something they can all move forward on.

It is particularly unfortunate given that our areas of agreement on WIA should outnumber our areas of disagreement.

If we are really serious about this, I would hope that you would at least take a serious attempt at a period of time when the two committees might sit down and try to work out some differences.

There is no evidence to support that the kind of arbitrary consolidation proposed by Chairwoman Foxx's bill will make the workforce system more coordinated or better integrated.

One hearing, no matter how cordial you run it, doesn't give us a chance to look at your bill and our bill and see where there might be room for compromise.

Consolidation threatens the performance of the system if it is accompanied by significant budget cutting.

One markup where you let us present amendments, but then vote them down by party line doesn't present itself as a way to talk through and compromise.

I think the most disturbing thing I heard you say was at the end, your side would prevail.

And I guess, Dr. Bernstein, is that failure to give raises for 4 years and then failure to give a cost of living increase this year obviously has an impact on the overall economy of that area, right?

the stagnation of wages is closely related to the persistent lack of demand or weakness in the labor market.

So they want to cut the teachers back in one area or another. But it is not a question of----

the uncertainty is caused of course by our friends who won't come to a reasonable balanced approach to taking care of our fiscal problems.

Ranking Member Tierney has also been a leader in exposing problems with DOD's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

I thank the gentlelady for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this rule. I heard comments over there from the chairman of the Rules Committee and others about how this was a fair rule and a fair process and how it's one…

I thank Mr. Markey for recognizing me at this point in time for the Special Order. You know, we did a little research so I wouldn't just stand up here, because I know John and Barney are sticklers for detail. So we did a little research…

The attitude of we don't have the records, we just spend the money, that permeates unfortunately too much of what is going on, not just in CSTC-A but I think in the whole operation over there.

I have to tell you, I really appreciate after ten years and for CSTC-A, for the Pentagon to suggest that we should increase spending to $555 million per year and from 2014 to 2018, $2.8 billion they want to increase the funding and send…

I think we are all hesitant to start turning over millions and millions of dollars to the Afghan National Army if they don't have a process of accountability.

Why are we giving them extra money if they can't justify the need for it?

This is outrageous to say the least, but it is not new to us.

So $306 million hasn't been justified either?

In 2005, I co-authored bipartisan legislation with then-Congressman Jim Leach that led the way to the creation of the Commission on Wartime Contracting.

Due to contracting fraud, the morphine given to patients was counterfeit and did little to relieve patient suffering.

Thank you. I think we have heard enough here today and I want to thank everybody for their testimony.