John Kline: “I hope the committee takes these important activities into account as they determine our budget.”

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the witnesses for being with us today. Excellent testimony, as we're trying to solve the problem that some of us have been dealing with for a long time.

No one voted for me in less than 35 days, and I would afford employees the same opportunity to be able to make an informed decision with regard to choosing their union representation.

There is nothing fair or excusable about a 75-year-old retiree with health care concerns finding out that the pension he was promised just isn't funded.

I cannot State emphatically enough that far-reaching reform, fiscal responsibility, and bipartisanship must be the principles that guide us as we work to solve this problem.