Debbie Stabenow

We have economic activity that is hanging in the balance, and because of this inactivity, we are losing $9 billion every single day?

I do think there should be accountability, but I think you first have to understand the data and the situation that you are faced with in your State.

But if we are going to do more, particularly so that those who are eligible can receive cash income that they so desperately need, what can we do to change a program that clearly has not kept up with the times in terms of the challenges…

We cannot just say this is because people do not want to work.

If we actually enforced equal pay for equal work for women, half the women in poverty today would be lifted out of poverty.

I believe in science, and because I believe in science, I know that climate change is real.

I believe that genetically modified foods are safe.

I support the use of biotechnology in agriculture. Biotechnology has proven to be safe, beneficial, and I believe will play a major role in helping to solve these dual global challenges of climate change and global food security.

Ensure public confidence in the regulatory system and to prevent unnecessary barriers to future innovation and competitiveness by improving transparency, coordination, predictability, and efficiency of regulations.

I would hope, as we are talking about upgrading pipelines and so on, that we include safety.

We are very, very concerned, people all over Michigan, the state is concerned, about a 62-year old pipeline.

It seems like even from a financial standpoint this does not make any sense.

I do think it is important to recognize that the improper payment rate, including up or down, is 0.4 percent.

I do think it is important to just register that we have choices about where we focus, whether it is on the working poor, trying to lift themselves up to get out of poverty into the middle class, or whether it is businesses shipping jobs…

USDA and the food assistance programs have about a 2.6-percent overpayment.

I hope that we are going to fully fund and implement the anti-fraud, waste, and abuse provisions in the Affordable Care Act.

I hope when we go into discussions about appropriations, we will remember what we have heard here.

I hope we will have the political will to do the things that all of you are talking about, because it is not rocket science.

I have actually worked on these issues a long time. I was thinking about it; it makes me feel old.

I am incredibly frustrated that we are still talking about these issues, because we have two sets of problems.

I say to the chairman that Senator Portman and I will have an amendment.

I just want to thank you for putting together a bipartisan package of bills.

Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to say again that what we are doing today builds on what we did in the farm bill, which was a great bipartisan effort.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding the hearing.

I wanted to ask you, Senator Shaheen has put forward an effort as a part of this package...