Barbara Mikulski

Thanks, Mr. Chairman. And really thank you and your staff for your, just, steadfast work, not only in this budget, but in all others, really, to look out for the poor and marginalized in the world.

The subcommittee stands in recess until Thursday, April 14, at 10 a.m., when we will take the testimony of Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke.

We have now been called upon to accept $78 billion worth of cuts from the President's 2011 request, $39 billion below the 2010 level.

I think the entire subcommittee, and really the entire Senate, really wishes them, through you, Godspeed.

I don't want to be foolish. So, let me tell you what I worry about in being foolish: that, because we skimp now, we then end up paying two or three times later.

We want to join with the President in his national goal of out-building and out-innovating and out-educating.

We cannot sustain technology with repeated cost overruns.

Now, we have, in other hearings, been talking about asking administrators about the consequences of the continuing resolution.

I was so pleased, in your comments and in your opening statement, that you acknowledged the incredible talent that's at NASA.

We felt that it would have been a disaster, had we had a shutdown, to, really, the economy and the reputation of the United States of America.

I think we need to be able to look at it.

And, as the shuttle winds down, people, as you know, are deeply concerned in Florida, people at all the centers are very worried about jobs.

What I'm trying to approve is the policy goals...

I think that you're going to see there's some flexibility.

You know, you could end up with a filibuster on this subcommittee, if you----

Well, then, my time is up. Well, maybe the Senate is not paying attention, but the American people are paying attention. I am telling you, this is a situation of enormous negative consequence. I think we are going to rue the day at the way…

We're going to just recess now, and reconvene in SH-219, for classified testimony on the national security budget of the FBI.

Predatory lenders continue destroying families and communities across the United States and undermining faith in our financial systems.

This was a bipartisan effort in fighting mortgage fraud that came from Senator Shelby and myself.

This is an American issue. So, you're not fighting this by yourself. You can count on me as a full partner on this.

We know that there is a $2.6 billion request for fighting what is the traditional role of the FBI.

We want to congratulate the FBI on what it is doing in mortgage fraud.

I want to know more about this.

I so admire what you have done and the leadership you have provided.

I think we have got to keep this in mind.