Susan Collins

The fact is, right now the Budget Control Act is current law regardless of the administration pretending otherwise in its request.

Now, I hope we can work together with the administration to get rid of sequestration while living within our means.

If we are talking about homeless veterans who received dishonorable discharges due to crimes that they committed, I do not understand why we would prioritize help to them with a new program rather than going through the regular VASH…

If we are talking about those veterans who were drummed out of the service because of the inequality and injustice of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law, then I am sympathetic.

We have made significant progress, but it is by no means solved.

We have to ensure that Federal dollars are spent effectively.

I am very disappointed by the administration's decisions to propose this reduction, especially since it was not part of an effort to live within the current budget caps.

The VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) voucher program has been critical, and the former ranking member, Senator Patty Murray, and I were always strong supporters of the VASH program.

But, Mr. Secretary, it is by no means solved. You may be able to point to isolated examples in large cities, but your own statistics show that it is not solved.

This budget, the HUD budget, impacts the lives of so many Americans in such an important way.

That certainly seems premature.

I remain concerned that this decision could undermine the FHA's ability to return to its statutory 2-percent reserve level.

I look forward to working with him toward the goal of crafting a bipartisan bill to address the critical transportation, housing, and community, and economic development needs of this country.

As the Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, I remain concerned that people over 65 have historically been under-represented in cancer clinical trials.

This has led me to question whether CMS consults with the FDA and NIH in making its coverage decisions.

So we need more of all kinds of ships and submarines in order to meet those military requirements.

I think sequestration, in addition to being such a blunt instrument, is such a mistake, because it actually ends up, as you said, with our paying more for fewer ships.

As the consideration of the budget moves forward, I look forward to working with you, Mr. Chairman, with the ranking member, and all of the members of this subcommittee, to achieve the goals of avoiding the terrible effects of…

To respond to the Senator from Texas, I hope that will not happen. I have put forth a way forward for this body. I want to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is fully funded throughout the fiscal year. I want to ensure that we…

If I could respond to the senior Senator from Texas, he raises an excellent point. I would bring up a quote that is just one of those 22 quotes in which the President has said over and over again that he would like to do more on…

The closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility remains a top administration priority and a national security imperative.

I am disappointed that the President's budget has slashed funding for this program.

I hear repeatedly from police officers... about how essential the RISS Program is in their efforts to fight violent crime.

I have also spoken at a graduation ceremony for a drug court in Portland, and it was really inspiring.

I am disappointed that the administration's budget cuts $5 million from the drug courts program.