Susan Collins

I want to acknowledge that he was the first person to come to me when I was Chairman to point out problems with FEMA.

The logical combination of all-hazards prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery underscores the need to keep FEMA within DHS.

You have ably described what an important role this is, as well as the impressive background of Mr. Morton.

I intend to support the nominee.

I have introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator Herb Kohl and Senator Voinovich that would seek to provide that authority across government.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Last Congress, working with Senators Lieberman, McCaskill, and Levin, our Committee was able to pass important reforms to the Federal contracting process and to strengthen our Nation's IGs.

By leveraging the expertise and independence of Inspectors General and their staffs, Congress has been able to identify, and take action to stop, wasteful spending.

The Inspectors General are vital partners in Congress's effort to identify inefficient, ineffective, and improper government programs.

In the last Congress, working with the Chairman as well as with Senators Lieberman and Levin, our Committee was able to pass important reforms to the Federal contracting process.

As General Skinner knows, we have worked very closely together on some of the FEMA reforms and the anti-waste, fraud, and abuse legislation for the Department of Homeland Security.

The Inspectors General are vital partners in our effort to identify inefficient, ineffective, and improper government programs.

It doesn't make sense to carve out investigators and auditors.

There is no one in the Congress who has a better understanding of Federal contracting of auditing issues than you do.

I would welcome the opportunity to make just a few comments, and I will put my full statement into the record.

It is in Pakistan that al Qaeda's senior leadership and other trans-national extremist elements are located.

It seems to me that prior to going forward with the commitment of additional troops, that the administration should have already established specific benchmarks.

How will we assess whether the new strategy is working? How will we know if we're winning?

I am honored to support Karen Mills' nomination to be the next Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

So when you became aware of the extent of corruption and fraud, what actions did you take?

It took most of a year. We did several hearings, issued a report with recommendations for all levels of government.

I join the Chairman in welcoming Jane Holl Lute to our Committee today as we consider her nomination to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

The Deputy Secretary of DHS wields considerable power over the day-to-day operations of the Department.

I am concerned, however, that the technological infrastructure that is necessary to process those documents, including passport cards, efficiently will not be in place by June at all of the land ports of entry.

I would be remiss in my duties as the Ranking Minority Member if I did not ask that you also treat requests from the Minority in the same manner...