Kit Bond

Without very thoughtful leadership, volunteers can spend a lot of time and not accomplish much.

Maybe we should seek some clarification on that, because is time wearing it out? Is the number of flights wearing it out?

We understand that things can happen at OMB that take time.

I appreciate being able to share parentage with part of the AmeriCorps program with you, because you are recognized as the godmother of the AmeriCorps program.

To say that the past year for the Corporation and its grantees was frustrating and stressful is, at best, an understatement.

I request that my testimony be made part of the record of the hearings on the fiscal year 2005 NSF budget.

I appreciate your hard work, commitment, and compassion as the Secretary of VA and in my humble opinion, your record will identify you as the finest VA Secretary ever.

I also believe the document has methodological flaws that undermine its own conclusions, not the least of which is the failure to reflect responses or explanations from responsible government officials.

Are the guidelines or criteria outlined by the NSF and are those good criteria?

I am pleased that the administration provided such a strong budget for the Corporation and the AmeriCorps program.

I hate to draw this to a close, we are having so much fun, but I am going to ask you one final question on New Source Review, something of course that is not very controversial.

Very quickly, can we get your commitment to complete the rulemaking this year?

I hope they have greener thumbs than I do. My efforts are not always successful.

I spoke on this issue, and I thought I spoke for you, apparently I did, when I said that the cuts in the Clean Water SRF was not acceptable.

It seems to be a decision by FHA that it can afford to house as many people as possible, no matter the cost of the default to the fund or the impact of a family's credit in the future.

Cleaning up lead paint has triple value. First of all, it helps children. It makes them safer.

Has there been a similar examination of the safety of the Soyuz?

Thank you very much, Senator Mikulski.

I spoke earlier on homelessness and the responsibility you took on as chair of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

I am still concerned about the retirement issue.

You have staff out in the heartland, don't you? You've got a great staff, I know, in Kansas City.

And will the employees under the new general appointment system be treated the same as under the GS system?

We want to be ahead of the issue.

This year's budget, however, will probably be the most difficult and challenging we have faced.

I thank you for that. That is good news.