I am worried that we have--and this Committee is a good example. We have had multiple hearings on the threat of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as it relates to homeland security.

Yet the President's budget plans to cut critical TSA programs at a time that we cannot afford to let up when it comes to security measures.

the debate over healthcare can be very confusing. Last night, a tweaked third version of this year's third bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act was released. This is after several dozens of votes taken in Congress on this very same issue…

Does the DOD have an epidemic of wasteful spending in March every year similar to what we are hearing may be happening in September?

this is something the Committee should look into.

we have not looked specifically at sort of whistleblowers' cost savings, but definitely support strong programs to allow employees to come forward.

we have to figure that out because that is going to be a part of analyzing what we may have here.

If such spending is indeed wasteful, what can be done to reduce it?

we have to make sure they are protected.

You had contractors there scamming the government. I am sure there are employees within those companies that saw that and were outraged by it. We want to make sure that they are protected to come forward so we can take action.

Regardless of when it occurs, wasteful spending is simply inexcusable, and I appreciate the opportunity to gather experts today to search for solutions and to do what we can to protect taxpayer dollars.

I would welcome that. In fact, as you know, we had in a full Committee hearing talked about the Lifeline program and where you have individual companies that were claiming that they had customers when, in fact, they did not, which is…

this is ridiculous that this kind of thing is happening.

On rollcall 522, I voted ``aye'' when I should have voted ``no'' on the Ellison amendment No. 200. Amendment No. 201 Offered by Mr. Ellison The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a recorded vote on the amendment…

Communications is every bit as important as electricity. It is essential to life.

the most important thing here is enforcement, and deterrence is the best way to prevent a lot of these problems

None of us can stand here and accept the kind of fraud and abuse that we see going on in this program.

We have got to make sure this program is administered properly so the individuals who rely on this service continue to have it.

There is not a dead person who is trying to scam this. These are companies that are taking this money away from taxpayers and endangering a program that provides vital services to people who need it.

It is not individuals bringing fraudulent documents. It is companies that have an incentive to just sign everybody up.

Do you agree with those who think that the National Verifier will significantly reduce the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse by shifting the burden of eligibility determinations away from sales agents and third-party contractors to a neutral…

I think there is an important goal here to make sure that people have access to communications services.

I do not think anyone could read that report and not be very angry.

They need to be held accountable, that they have to check the paperwork, they have to have it.

I'm of the mind that highly automated trucks are not ripe for inclusion in this bill.