Ben Cardin

I agree with the Chairman that we need to make sure we have adequate personnel to administer our judicial system.

Strengthening our diplomatic corps is critical to ensuring American national security and economic vitality

I think it is really important that we understand how important it has been to them

I always say to them, why don't you just get your heads together and try to work something out

I just really wanted to come by to introduce and to support Anne Ferro's appointment to be the Federal Motor Carrier Administrator.

Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to introduce Anne Ferro, President Obama's nominee for the position of Federal Motor Carrier Administrator in the Department of Transportation.

I don't think we're going to be able to resolve the problems of people getting visas to come to America at this hearing.

Some of it is too stringent... that's hurting our scientific effort.

But here you have to balance the Nation's security in a Dr. Ivins-like situation against privacy concerns.

You've got to find somebody to take charge, given them general guidelines.

How do you balance that?

It puts additional attention on the subject that we have here today, which is the security of our containment labs.

You're saying we need to have a coordinated strategy.

Your predictions that your Commission came up with, the vulnerability of the United States to weapons of mass destruction, and most likely the biological being the more likely vulnerability.

I'd like to commend President Obama for his initiative, the statements that he has made, such as that that he made in Prague.

I miss your good advice that I remember with fondness, working with you when I was in that other body.

We clearly are interested in the recommendations that come out of the working group and we'll look forward to not only their report, but the administration's response to those reports.

So then, in fact, if the collaboration is outside of the United States, you really don't have much ability to follow that money.

If they have control over a pathogen that can be used for biological mischief to America, we want to make sure that you know where that pathogen is at all times.

But I think we have to have a more sophisticated way in which we look at those that are handling the most dangerous of the pathogens.

I think there are 80 agents today that are of concern that are under the regulation.

We could have had 15 of you up there. My point is, there's 15 agencies that do have some responsibility.

I have been to Detrick, as I said in my opening comments. I've seen the work that's being done there, the dedicated men and women who are serving our country in a very dangerous situation, and we very much appreciate their professionalism…

Thank you very much for your testimony.

Without objection, the full statements of all of the witnesses will be included in the record today.