Susan Collins

Improving the efficiency and reliability of our Nation's transportation system is vital to the movement of people, freight, and goods.

An additional $167 billion in new revenues would have to be established to support a bill of this magnitude.

It is fundamentally unfair for the Federal Government to award grants to States, only then to take them away.

The transportation system is the lifeline for our country and our economy.

I think the key was that there was such a focus and there was so much more transparency than is typical of many Federal programs.

I want to switch now to another issue that is a potential fiscal time bomb in HUD's budget.

There is a basic philosophical issue that I believe that the Congress and the administration need to confront regarding the future role of FHA.

The problem is it saves money not for HUD but for the Medicaid program, for the corrections system, for State and local governments.

I appreciate your leadership at the Department of Transportation (DOT) and look forward to working together to promote fiscally responsible investments in our Nation's aging transportation infrastructure.

I appreciate your leadership at DOT, and as the new ranking member of this subcommittee, I look forward to working with you.

Of course, when you apply even one-half percent against $800 billion, it is still troubling.

It should be an opportunity for the IG to identify program weaknesses, mismanagement, vulnerabilities, and should be welcomed by the Secretary.

I am told, however, that Ginnie Mae's reserves are less than the 2 percent that traditionally has been held. Is that not a problem?

I was originally a skeptic of the Housing First model because I felt that unless you made getting assistance for substance abuse problems, for example, a condition of getting into these apartments, it would not work.

I will tell her staff that I enjoyed it very much and that I look forward to working with Madam Chairman Murray.

I would also encourage you to work very closely with the new inspector general when he or she is appointed.

What are the prospects that Ginnie Mae would need a Government bailout similar to the very unpopular Government bailouts?

As you know, a lot of these housing issues are relatively new to me, and as I have been learning about the various programs, I have wondered why we still have public housing and whether or not we should be moving to a system where we give…

I think that everyone is for effective coordination, and the partnership with the VA on that program is absolutely critical to reaching the veterans who need help, and I have seen the success in my own State.

One of my primary concerns is the number of homeless Americans.

As a nation, we must ensure that in the land of the free, there is always a home for the brave.

I support Senator Murray's efforts to invigorate the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.

As a Nation, we must ensure that in the land of the free there is always a home for the brave.

I am appalled to learn of numerous investigations uncovering embezzlement by senior management of PHAs.

I look forward to partnering with you in advancing investments in transportation infrastructure as well as working to meet the housing and economic development needs of our families and communities.