I have always been a very strong proponent of family planning programs and of measures to promote and protect women's health. Like many Americans, however, I was very concerned in January when the Department of Health and Human Services…

I have always supported funding for the Homeless Assistance Grants program to prevent and end homelessness.

Maine is the most heavily dependent of any State in the Nation on home heating oil.

The technology has changed so dramatically, and that's going to be great news to a lot of homeowners in Maine.

It is my understanding that some public housing agencies are having a difficult time administering their voucher programs.

What limits your ability to reach common goals and results with other agencies?

I want to be sure we are making decisions with an understanding of their consequences and an eye toward the future.

Ultimately, FHA should play a more limited role in the mortgage market and help encourage the private sector to reassert its primacy.

Last year, Senator Collins and I worked very hard to protect HUD's core rental assistance programs.

I would encourage you to make more use of those tools in egregious cases.

I think that is directly due to the fact that you have personally made it a priority, and put a real spotlight on it.

text messaging was the key factor in a crash that killed the driver and seriously injured her passenger.

I remain concerned that we must reform our present housing finance programs, but in doing so, we must remain ever mindful to limit the taxpayer's exposure to additional financial losses.

I do not think you should be relying on a one-time windfall from the lender's settlement to get you back to the statutorily required level.

The administration has proposed paying for its broad-based refinancing plan by charging a fee on large financial institutions, a so-called bank tax.

you have demonstrated very strong leadership on the growing safety problem that is caused by distracted driving.

I think that kind of technical assistance and helping to share best practices that the Department has found is very helpful.

I am concerned about some of the proposals.

We need to focus, however, on what works such as the Housing First model for aiding those who are homeless.

I worry that smaller community airports will simply not have the funds to contribute more than the current 20 percent, and could potentially be forced to shut down operations.

It is, however, important that we focus on what works.

We did so in a truly bipartisan fashion.

Let me just end my comments today by thanking you and the Department for your commitment, which helped us save freight rail.

And I want to report to you that it is going extremely well, that shipments are up, the track is being repaired so the service is so much better.

It is critical that federally subsidized properties comply with all health, safety, and quality standards.