He seemed so committed to reopening schools for girls, and pledged personally to me that better treatment of girls and women would be among his highest priorities.

I want to follow up on Senator Mikulski's concerns about the treatment of women at a time when we're proposing to ramp up our economic assistance to Afghanistan.

Raising the Federal truck weight limit for Maine to 100,000 pounds would keep heavy trucks on the interstates, which are designed to carry more weight than the rural roads.

It seems to me that there are steps that could be taken to strengthen the screening at the border...

I believe the Federal Government should have stepped in and set the priorities.

I am worried that the virus is getting ahead of the public health system's capacity at this moment to prevent it and respond to it, particularly with adequate treatment.

I am not advocating closing the border. That is not my position.

There are huge variations in the capabilities at the State and local level.

I do believe that we need a thorough evaluation of the preparedness at the State and local levels.

I would appreciate your responding to for the record.

there are other steps that could be taken to enhance the screening at the border.

That to me is an appalling answer to someone who has a child who is at high risk and needs the vaccine.

I believe that most Americans would be surprised to learn that 36,000 people every year die from the regular seasonal flu.

Such extreme measures should not be required. And it raises troubling questions: How many others, just like Brendon, are still waiting for their vaccination?

The fact that three Cabinet Secretaries are here today demonstrates the seriousness with which the Federal Government is preparing for and responding to the H1N1 pandemic.

It is not an easy decision to decide to do a mass inoculation, and while I am sure that the science behind vaccines has improved in the last 30 years, the experience of 1976 should cause us to proceed with caution.

I am very concerned about recent reports on inadequate supplies of the vaccine.

I am heartened by the coordinated response.

It should be prioritized.

DHS in general has a responsibility for assisting State and local governments in their preparedness and response capabilities.

We should be going beyond routine procedures given the threat.

I just do not understand why the Federal Government did not then instruct States and local public health officials to concentrate on this priority group.

I do want to applaud you for the response.

I think one of the lessons here is that when we do run into these problems, we need to prioritize the distribution of supplies.

Is the Administration developing any kind of plan or recommendations to try to ensure that we have the capability to produce vaccines right here in the United States?