Olympia Snowe

Senator Snowe has supported us; we are grateful for that support.

I appreciate that. Thank you.

The issue of subsidies is quite substantial. I think that that is what is troubling, and obviously we have to get to the heart of that matter in terms of what is driving it and whether or not that is as accurate as it could be based on the…

Creating a seat for SBA at the President's highest table is a signal to our fragile economy that America's small business will, in fact, drive our nation to full recovery.

Obviously I gathered that everything contributed to the real estate devaluation in those zero years in which there was no subsidy rate by the taxpayers.

As you can see in the chart, there is a tremendous growth in subsidies and that is the concern.

I think it is really important for us to do everything we can to collect every dollar to the extent possible.

I was raising that question because of the Inspector General's report that did a review, an audit of SBA, and indicated that the SBA did not refer more than 5,000 eligible co-borrowers and guarantors to the Treasury for cross-servicing and…

I do not believe that, in the near term, the Senate can correct itself from within. It is by nature a political entity and, therefore, there must be a benefit to working across the aisle.

I would like to respectfully call on you both to lend your strong support to the Marketplace Fairness Act.

Well, it seems to me that that would be a critical function that should be ongoing within NOAA.

Is there a plan to revise the project baseline for the OPC, as Coast Guard has done for the National Security Cutter?

I know that in Maine just 2 years ago in Cobscook Bay these teams were charting the coastline which is so significant to maritime commerce and the Coast Guard's work obviously, and really is an important navigational service.

I am looking over the budget request, and one of my concerns which I mentioned in my statement was the trend within the budget to eliminate or to reduce substantially many of these competitive grant programs.

I just want to understand what is the status of this requirement.

I think that is serious.

It just seems to me it is a crucial obligation of NOAA to provide that service.

It is so important that we ensure the resources provided by the American taxpayers are put to their highest and best use in as cost-efficient a manner as possible.

I would just hope that there would not be a mandate or requirement on this question without a great deal of input from the industry regarding other alternatives rather than requiring onboard observers.

It is incumbent upon Congress to ensure that the assets that they rely on to carry out their work and return them to shore safely are equal to the task.

I understand exactly what the problem is.

Congress must have a clear picture of the risks involved in various acquisition strategies and programs.

Yes. I think it is crucial. We will have to address it.

One of the issues that GAO raised in their recommendations the Coast Guard has developed baselines for some assets, and these indicate the estimated total acquisition program cost could be as much as $29.3 billion, about $5 billion over…

We must ask whether this request is adequate to meet the increasingly complex needs of our nation's homeland security, marine safety, and environmental response.