Barbara Mikulski

I believe that the Federal Government has a clear financial interest in the operation of Metro.

Senators Dodd, Menendez, Mikulski, and I introduced The Public Transportation Safety Program Act that will require the Transportation Secretary to establish and implement a comprehensive Public Transportation Safety program.

We learned from this February's snowstorms that the Federal Government in fact cannot function without Metro.

We have to talk about what is the way forward, and do we have the will and the methods to accomplishment?

He wanted to assure you in the strongest possible way that Maryland will meet its commitment.

I would like to really have a copy of those top 10 for us as well for the record.

So what the hell does that mean? Pardon me.

I don't think that is an appropriate congressional role.

This demonstrates the President's commitment to smart growth, his recognition that it is in the Federal Government's interest to alleviate and not contribute to terrible traffic congestion in the Greater Washington Area.

WMATA does need reliable revenue streams.

We continue to support the Federal share.

Well, in light of what has happened, I think there are going to be a lot of recommendations, and we would welcome your views on that.

I intend to be a watchdog and a reformer in terms of the administration.

I want to reiterate the fact that Senator Shelby wanted very much to be here, and he, too, sir, might have additional questions for you.

That is like 10 percent of the Government's funding.

We are all deeply troubled by this watch list, and the watch lists don't seem to be working the way they were intended.

Well, I would like your team to talk more extensively to Senator Feinstein and me and about something we might ask of the President.

Because they had been trained, equipped, and trusted, we were able to bring that sniper to justice.

I was at a community fair, and there was something that someone gave me a little plastic shopping bag with the name of an agency, not a Federal agency head, and said, 'Here, enjoy it. You paid for it.'

It is not whether you are for big government or small government, but are you for smart government?

I would like a well-paced decisionmaking process and contact with the family.

I am not asking that. I am asking about the law and the fact that every report that has been issued says the law is now either gray, dated, or nonexistent on this.

I think that is the only way you can do training, and--I think you would concur in your many years at Justice--where law enforcement, particularly at the State and local level, can come together and forge those relationships that work so…

That is where we get a bad rep. You know, that is where, quite frankly, some of the folks who are cranky with government have every right to be cranky.

The President has got to give us a TSA nominee that we can confirm.