The Postal Service is in an abysmal financial crisis. It lost $8.5 billion during the past fiscal year.

It should not be a one-shot deal.

I look forward to working with the nominee as we go forward.

I hope you will because if you look at it from a cost-benefit ratio, this unit has produced so many valuable reports and investigations that have led to reforms that have really saved taxpayer dollars.

But the pace of congressional oversight efforts cannot, at times, wait for months or even years for the completion of a GAO report.

It is totally unacceptable for a program to remain a high risk for 20 years.

I hope that your reaction to the employees' dissatisfaction and decision to recognize a union is not to back away from a merit-based system.

As Congress's primary watchdog, the GAO has a critical role to play in the efficiency and effectiveness of government.

I believe the Department should independently evaluate the health effects of that technology and should consider software that is in use at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam that respects travelers' privacy by automatically identifying objects…

Are you looking at increasing the amount of time before cargo is shipped to our country where you receive a listing of the cargo?

I would be worried about the people doing the screening and whether they share our goals.

these plots should prompt us to reexamine whether our priorities are correct and our resources properly deployed.

But for the intelligence tip that was provided by our ally, would our current security systems have detected these package bombs?

the terrorists remain unflagging in their determination to exploit vulnerabilities in the security systems developed since September 11, 2001.

Obviously, our government's first priority is to protect our people against terrorism, and the public will accept a certain level of intrusion and inconvenience.

What is the single biggest change that you think we should be making?

It is, of course, with sorrow that I rise to offer these words on the tragic passing of Senator Stevens, but it is also with a sense of gratitude and fondness that I remember him and that I celebrate his dedicated service to our Nation, to…

I rise to express my concern that the Senate may adjourn this week without extending the 2001 and 2003 tax relief provisions which are slated to expire on January 1. These tax laws include important reforms such as the 10 percent tax rate…

Yes. In addition, DOD is continuing efforts to strengthen the acquisition workforce size and quality.

one of the targeted areas in your 23-point plan is to mandate 'affordability' as a requirement.

Redirecting tens of billions of dollars to productive purposes is a result of the necessary changes we were making in the way we do business;

we have created new security and intelligence systems to detect, deter, and defend against terrorism.

the fight against Islamist extremism and terrorism sure looks like it is going to go on for a long time to come.

I do believe this is an issue that we need to pursue as well.

I agree with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ADM Mike Mullen, that the don't ask, don't tell law should be repealed. It should be repealed contingent upon the certifications of the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the…