Susan Collins

We strongly support that approach for reasons we have explained in our written testimony.

If the Postal Service defaults on the $5.5 billion payment for the retiree health benefits fund, that unfunded liability does not go away;

The Congress needs to set that in the law, and that is where I am stuck.

I just do not understand why the Administration continues to say that it does not have the authority.

But, Mr. Berry, that $6.9 billion pales in comparison to the $55 billion that Mr. Levy described.

He says that the Postal Service is on the brink of default, a year from now will not be able to meet its payroll and carry out its operations.

The failure of the Postal Service would be devastating to our economy.

One year ago today, in fact, President Obama signed an Executive Order (EO) to increase Federal employment of individuals with disabilities.

Senate 261 would require a system change for FECA claimants.

Labor's proposal contains a conversion benefit that would reduce the retirement-eligible FECA claimant's benefits to 50 percent of their gross salary at the date of the injury.

The President has stated the core goal of the U.S. strategy in Central Asia is to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Even if there is a satisfactory end-state in Afghanistan, how can we achieve the President's goal of preventing the return of al Qaeda fighters to Afghanistan and Pakistan so long as they can take advantage of the safe havens?

Senators Susan Collins and Joe Lieberman asked the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department to account for how federal training dollars are spent.

I would like to get the opinion of each of you, and let me start by pointing out that last week, on July 11, 2011, the President issued an Executive Order.

I want to make sure this has been cleared with the Senator from South Carolina?

It is because you are willing to come here and tell your personal stories that we have been successful in tripling the funding for research that goes for diabetes.

You are the best advocates for funding for diabetes research that we could possibly have.

I am grateful that Congress passed legislation to renew the Special Diabetes Program last year.

How important is it for Congress to do multiple years as opposed to year-to-year renewals of funding?

It is my hope that Congress will continue to support research at NIH, specifically the Special Diabetes Program.

Thank you very much, Senator Pryor. Senator Begich, welcome.

Last year, we were able to pass legislation to extend the Special Diabetes Program for 2 additional years, and that program represents more than a third of our Federal commitment to diabetes research.

This issue is near and dear to my heart, and this actually represents the sixth hearing of the Children's Congress that I have had the privilege to conduct.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for coming to this hearing, the wonderful witnesses that we had...

In early May, 59 of us signed a letter that I spearheaded that encouraged the FDA to move forward.