Susan Collins

But with an ANC, no matter how big or how successful it becomes, it is presumed to be economically disadvantaged.

I salute the governor for doing so because I think that is a fundamental reform.

More secure drivers' licenses also have applications for prohibiting or making it more difficult for counterfeiting to take place.

I want to make clear that I am not talking about irrational prejudices. I am not talking about profiling.

Some of the States that have protested the loudest are in fact close to compliance.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Governor, all of us are concerned about the looming deadline under the current law and the ability of States to comply with the law.

I felt so strongly that this undermines the security and the purpose of having a secure identification.

I think the burden of proof is shifting from the individual presenting himself at the airport...

I hate REAL ID, but I am going to invest.

I believe Logan in Boston is one of those airports that is using the technique.

If PASS ID was to pass and we have new implementing regulations, is there concern that the investments made by States who are seeking to comply with the law would be for naught?

I support many of the provisions of PASS ID, and I commend all of those, including my own staff, who have worked so hard to come up with a system that is less expensive, less burdensome to the States, and more protective of privacy…

I think you are creating a situation where that security official is going to feel he or she has no choice but to let the individual board the plane because you have now put that specific language in the bill, in the law.

Which is an excellent point, and it is the reason that we have gathered here today, but I do not want to leave the impression that there has been no progress in this area, that States are completely unable to make improvements in their…

For terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons.

This is a crisis. It is simply unacceptable that we have such a poor level of security at busy Federal buildings that are obvious targets.

We have an urgent problem. It isn't just the threat from al-Qaeda terrorists, it is the threat from a domestic terrorist.

When our staffs looked at these contracts, we found that for the most part, they were awarded based on the lowest bid price as opposed to the best value.

In this case, it sounds to me like GAO did everything but put the word 'bomb making materials' on the packages that you were putting through the X-ray machine.

The need for these trained staff has never been more apparent.

I cannot fathom how security breaches of this magnitude were allowed to occur.

I look forward to working with the Chairman to accomplish that goal.

We can't be just working toward solutions. We need to have solutions right now.

You see, that information is so disturbing, because it shows how easily a terrorist or a criminal could obtain these materials and smuggle them into a building.

And that, too, is disturbing because some Federal offices might be located in a commercial building...