We really do need to preserve the important role that Congress plays.

All of us want to make sure that we do that quickly and fully.

You have suggested that a more appropriate fleet size would be approximately 375 ships to meet current and future threats.

How do you envision the U.S. Navy's capability to meet current and growing worldwide threats with less than a 300-ship Navy?

I've been following with interest your thoughts about a 'maritime' North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

As of January 30, 2004, our fleet consists of only 294 ships.

Senate Republicans are committed to enacting legislation to preserve, strengthen, and save Medicare for current and future generations.

Unfortunately, that is exactly right. Unbelievable though it may seem, the formula that is being used actually penalizes those agencies in our two States that have done a good job of holding down costs.

The point is, cuts of this magnitude, that we have seen in the State of Maine and throughout the country, cannot be sustained without hurting senior citizens.

More than 2,300 home health agencies across the country have been forced to close their doors as a result of the regulatory burden and the flawed payment system.

This solves the problem. For one thing, it eliminates another 15-percent cut that is scheduled to go into effect in October of next year.

The regulatory overkill of the Clinton administration has already exceeded the savings projected by the balanced budget amendment.