Tim Walz

This is an important and critical step in ensuring proper use of resources, making sure we reduce fraud, waste, and abuse;

I hope that this hearing will demonstrate the steps that the VA has taken to make bonuses about rewarding excellence, not about helping friends or family.

I have often said that I am the strongest supporter of the VA and, because of that, I will be the strongest critic.

I think the question here is making sure that bonuses are paid based on performance, not on standard or set procedure, on autopilot.

However, we need mechanisms that work, not mechanisms that simply add heavy-handed regulation to low-risk commodities.

I do have concerns about certain provisions in H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. It is important that Congress get it right.

As we consider this legislation, I will be evaluating this and any other proposal on three key principles: One, does the legislation make food safer? Two, does the legislation hold the regulator accountable? And three, does the legislation…

We are here to make something that actually works. My largest concern is that whatever we do needs to work for everyone.

We have an obligation to our children to address this problem, to set an example for the world.

I think that many of us, it has been very apparent, we share the deep concerns about the issues of climate change and carbon emissions, but we also are equally concerned that, as we do this legislation, we do what is right by our true…

We need to turn these lights off and the air conditioner in here that is being generated by coal as we speak.

We want to be part of the solution, as we already are. We want to get something done here.

Climate change is real and it is a serious problem.

I think it would be very sad if the U.S. didn't try to re-exert a leadership role in solving this troubling issue for our planet.

The quality of life for our citizens in rural areas is just as important as the urban areas.

We need to make certain that we get the technology.

we are part of the solution. We are not the problem; we are part of the solution.

climate change is real, and is a serious problem.

We all must do our part to reduce our carbon footprint.

I do really appreciate both of you being here. You are both incredibly important to the industry that drives my district in southern Minnesota.

Did the Seventh Circuit rule wrong on Zelener, can I ask each of you in your opinion?

It should not be our goal to treat every commodity the same when it comes to regulation.

I believe I can speak to the perspective of many of them. They do not fear government regulation, they welcome it.

It is a moral responsibility. Lots of people may say thank you, but the followthrough that we do to make sure that care is absolutely the best available is something we have to continue to strive for with absolutely zero mistakes in this.

We sit here not as individuals but as representatives of 700,000 people in our respective districts.