Will you evaluate the current Federal Order to help ensure that it is effectively protecting the potato industry in the United States?

I think Senator Tester just raised an absolutely essential issue that does deserve our attention.

Senator Heitkamp and I have introduced a bill that would actually authorize the program.

We have to ensure that Federal dollars are spent effectively.

I think that is a real problem in terms of attracting people to this very important Department.

I do not see how someone who is running a private trucking business out of her HUD office could possibly be performing her HUD duties.

If we are talking about those veterans who were drummed out of the service because of the inequality and injustice of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law, then I am sympathetic.

The VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) voucher program has been critical, and the former ranking member, Senator Patty Murray, and I were always strong supporters of the VASH program.

Yes, and let me ask you about that before I turn to the Vice Chairwoman for her questions, because even though overall veterans homelessness has only been reduced by a third, according to your latest statistics, so I would argue we have a…

If we are talking about homeless veterans who received dishonorable discharges due to crimes that they committed, I do not understand why we would prioritize help to them with a new program rather than going through the regular VASH…

I do not understand the basis for this belief given that the point in time count has not been conducted yet.

This is terrible. No wonder morale is bad.

Just a couple more questions, Mr. Secretary.

You need to make this a priority because it is only fair to the very hardworking majority of employees who are at HUD.

Now, I hope we can work together with the administration to get rid of sequestration while living within our means.

I am very disappointed by the administration's decisions to propose this reduction, especially since it was not part of an effort to live within the current budget caps.

This budget, the HUD budget, impacts the lives of so many Americans in such an important way.

The fact is, right now the Budget Control Act is current law regardless of the administration pretending otherwise in its request.

I remain concerned that this decision could undermine the FHA's ability to return to its statutory 2-percent reserve level.

if you have found time to travel to 20 States and yet did not come to the State of Maine, you may wish to reconsider your travel in the next year.

I would wager, everyone on this subcommittee would make about the cuts in the Community Development Block Grant Program.

I have to tell you I have heard this song before every year, and that was even before the premium reduction.

I must say I was a bit puzzled by this request because it seems to me what we ought to do is move the perpetrators out of these housing.

We have made significant progress, but it is by no means solved.

But, Mr. Secretary, it is by no means solved. You may be able to point to isolated examples in large cities, but your own statistics show that it is not solved.