I believe that we must look at this not only as the responsibility of the local jurisdictions--Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC--but also as a Federal responsibility.

I am proud to join the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and many others in endorsing this nomination.

I want to once again send my deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and all those whose lives the victims of this tragedy.

I have three criteria that I use to evaluate all Executive Branch nominees: Competence, integrity, and commitment to the core mission of the Department.

I urge the subcommittee to include the President's fiscal year 2011 budget request for Metro in the fiscal year 2011 THUD Appropriations bill.

There have been 11 metro deaths this year.

Washington Metro is America's subway.

I am proud to sponsor Senator Mikulski's National Metro Safety Act (S. 1506) to establish Federal safety standards for America's transit systems.

I really want to thank you for your national leadership on transportation safety in general and also on this transit safety issue in particular.

Safety is my Department's highest priority.

There is a clear Federal responsibility to this system.

My top priority is jobs, jobs, jobs.

Promises made must be promises kept.

The financial crisis may have started on Wall Street, but this recession certainly has hurt everyone.

I do not think it's our moral and ethical framework.

I apologize for being late. It was not only the traffic, but, as you can see, I'm now looking at the health care system from the wheelchair up.

Oh, boy, that's another sensitive one with me.

What would they be? Because, as you know, this is a very controversial issue.

Well, this was an outstanding panel and I want to thank everyone for participating and really putting a great deal of thought into it.

Health reform is how we achieve universal access in a way that meets quality standards and also cost standards.

Fortunately, when we pass national health reform, we will begin a new era in women's health.

the most important thing we can do this year, I believe, is to make sure that no more gender discrimination occurs in our health insurance policies.

We have strongly embraced that as part of our basket of recommendations.

We know that health care is truly an American issue, where we need to be able to guarantee access.

But these bills--the Baucus bill, for example, would cut $404 billion off Medicare with cuts in Medicare of 10 to 15 percent every year.