Barbara Mikulski

We won't call them 'predators', we'll call them 'weasels.'

We don't want to have government-subsidized slums.

What we've seen is a pattern, particularly the closer you are into a city, is that apartment buildings or complexes have all become Section 8.

What we're seeing, though, is that these FHA-insured apartment buildings, in many instances, have taken on all the characteristics of slums.

How are you really standing sentry and ensuring that these REAC teams... are really doing their job?

I support the direction that you're going in.

Well, that's not what they're saying.

Well, I'm sorry, I think that this is really rife with problems, and we want small business, but you've got to really look at competency.

And I appreciate that good news. But have you looked at the GAO report? And do you intend to implement their reforms?

Well, you know where I am, because we have all this distressed housing, and we have more work to be done.

What about the recommendations on this? There are also those that believe that because HUD has contracted out property disposition, that debt has become more expensive and fraught, rife with waste.

Well, how much of what is at HUD is uncommitted?

Are you, or are you not, committed to the reauthorization of HOPE VI, knowing there needs to be review, refresh, reform, but also the restoration of HOPE VI as part of an authorized, funded program?

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

I have strong objections to the elimination of the Rural Housing and Economic Development Program.

This could mean less affordable housing, more rundown public housing, more lead-paint-poisoned children.

We wanted to get the Federal Government out of the slum-landlord business and into the empowerment business.

I'm disappointed that HUD has once again proposed to eliminate HOPE VI.

I'll go to one other criminal act, which is the ultimate, most despicable, and heinous, which is an act of terrorism.

We really do want this information from you, and we would like to know how many cases EPA has decided not to pursue.

I would encourage you to look at--in other words, this also goes to the deployment of your resources.

When I talk about criminal, I'm talking about premeditated, deliberate desire to usurp, evade the environmental laws.

I appreciate that this is complicated, but I think it would give us a good benchmark about where a public investment improves the environment, public health, and creates jobs, which I know would be hopefully a bipartisan agenda.

We are concerned that this is a good intention that might not have the result.

While we're here, we talked about the watershed issue, the $10 million in terms of the targeted watershed initiative for the Chesapeake Bay, again we appreciate it being targeted.