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

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

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

These responsibilities are in addition to the many other challenges associated with the operation of a Department with some 210,000 employees and a mission to secure our borders.

I intend to request additional resources and personnel for Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help stem the flow of drugs and people moving north into the United States and guns and money moving south…

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

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...

Senator Lieberman and I have been strong advocates for reforms that have resulted in greater competition, accountability, and transparency to Federal contracting.

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.

It significantly strengthened the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and since that time, I know the Chairman takes great pride in the fact, as do I, that FEMA's response to natural disasters has improved enormously.

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.

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

Did you put into the system additional reviews or safeguards or higher-level approvals to ensure the integrity of the procurement process?

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

Thank you so much for holding this very important hearing that is of such tremendous interest, as you can see by this packed room.

In my own family, we are all too familiar with the pain and hardship associated with Alzheimer's.

They talked to me about the need to have a patient-centered reimbursement system under healthcare rather than a procedure-centered system.

Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that takes a tremendous personal and economic toll on both the individual, the family, and our country.

I am concerned, however, about the problems that occur after the men and women come home from deployment or after they have been discharged.

I wonder if that could be expanded to also be a screen for mental health problems.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, let me first thank you, Senator Graham, and Senator Cornyn for your leadership on this extraordinarily troubling issue.

But, I'd like each of you to discuss how you're coordinating with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), for example, and the National Guard.

there is an appalling gap in our Nation's ability to respond to the use of a weapon of mass destruction on our soil.

the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently issued a report on the Iranian nuclear program asserting Iran now has more than 1,000 kilograms of Low Enriched Uranium--which if further enriched to weapons-grade--would be enough for…

the primary near-term security concern of the United States is the global economic crisis.