Susan Collins

We, on the Intelligence Committee, want to know the answers to those questions. And we have begun to request information from the attorney general to allow us to get to the bottom of that.

It's fundamental to the operation of our government that the FBI be insulated from this kind of political pressure.

Don't ever leave me alone with him again.

The President never should have cleared the room, and he never should have asked you, as you reported, to let it go.

I think there's a lot of confusion about Section 702, and I appreciate your clear explanation this morning.

And I would say to you each time in a bipartisan way this committee made sure that we got the funding back up.

I have to say among municipal officials I think it is the most popular program because of its flexibility.

I am hopeful that you will take another look at that issue and about reissuing these notices.

The best way to prevent the trafficking of these vulnerable individuals is to give them safe places to stay and provide services.

I am particularly troubled by youth homelessness.

But just so you might know, my slogan on this is that in the land of the free, there must always be a home for the brave.

This program, partially because of its interagency approach, has been successful in reducing homelessness among our veterans by 47 percent since we started it in 2010.

I am not happy that there is no additional funding for new VASH vouchers, which help our homeless veterans.

I think the President's budget eliminates funding for the Interagency Counsel on Homelessness, which I think is a huge mistake.

Effective solutions to the problems of housing affordability and reducing poverty are going to require improved collaboration across Federal agencies.

I have introduced along with Senator Martin Heinrich--actually, it is his bill that I am his key cosponsor, a two-generation economic Empowerment Act.

My hope, and I guess I am just seeking a commitment from you, is that you are putting together the team, that it sounds like you are.

I am impressed and pleased that you know that the IV identified 11 material weaknesses.

I would argue that the Community Development Block Grant program is an essential part of fulfilling that mission.

What kind of message does it send when the President's Budget proposes eliminating all of the funding to carry out the community development mission of HUD?

I personally like that change because I think it is more inclusive and better reflects the mission of HUD, which is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

I look forward to talking with you about it and working closely with you on these issues.

While I am deeply troubled by some of the budget proposals, I also want to acknowledge that there are so many areas where HUD and I share common interests.

This year will be extremely challenging. Not only are the budget caps under the current law lower than last year, but also the President's request is proposing to set the caps even lower.

The Administration has not given you much to work with and I suspect it will be a daunting task to defend these significant reductions that are being proposed.