The decision was made around 1998, 1999, to move those within the Embassy and, as you might expect, the attendance at these centers dropped considerably.

Thank you, Senator Kaufman, for convening this hearing to evaluate the future of U.S. public diplomacy.

What strategy would we have to find some more?

I think Senator LeMieux and I agree on this point. We owe a debt of gratitude to our colleagues, our two physicians, for making it clear on national television over the course of 7rac{1}{2} ext{ hours last week that Republicans have…

I am reminded of that when I hear about what is being discussed and what now seems to be the clear plan for this Democratic majority and President Obama in moving forward with health care legislation. The House has passed a flawed bill…

I am concerned that we will discover that China is the one who is getting the U.S. stimulus dollars for this project.

I completely agree with Senator Murray about Yucca Mountain, but the President's comments about a new generation of nuclear power...

We need to be trading on an economically beneficial basis with partners like China, but stimulus dollars going to China and Malaysia and elsewhere around the world are not meeting the test of stimulating the U.S. economy.

It is heartening to see that this proposed budget takes into account the public's input.

Most of the so-called good, high quality, new manufacturing jobs are going to Asia where labor costs are a fraction of the U.S. salaries.

I think it is important that the American people know that the so-called stimulus funds to stimulate jobs in America, being put on the credit cards of our children and grandchildren, are actually stimulating jobs here.

It's just--it's wonderful to see Senator Lautenberg back and looking so good.

And in conclusion, then, let me say, Mr. Chairman, to ensure that this partnership continues to flourish, we must work together now to prevent these kinds of safety issues in the future.

I have a concern that the efforts that you took in the past were not appropriate and you did not go far enough in the years prior to what you are doing today.

Secretary LaHood, my friend and colleague, has stated publicly that he is committed to examining more deeply the possibility that the causes of unintended acceleration extend beyond floor mats and sticky pedals.

So, at this point, you don't feel comfortable giving us a preliminary criticism or opinion as to either one of these----

And the study done by your Department will be a completely separate and exhaustive----

We must not use a different set of standards for one company over the other.

That's why I hope Congress will resist the temptation to attack Toyota simply to advance the interests of its American competitors.

Make no mistake, the safety and reliability concerns identified in some Toyota automobiles--although they occur very infrequently--are serious.

The way that Congress and the Obama Administration respond to this controversy will have real economic consequences.

Thank you very much, and I'm mindful that Senator Boxer is under a tight schedule, and I promise to be brief.

We cannot lose sight of the company's importance to America's economy--and should not ignore its continued commitment to doing things the right way.

Let me suggest, in the next 10 seconds, that there is an entity called the National Academy of Sciences that does independent peer reviews.

I would appreciate it if you would get back to the Committee, on the record, and tell us whether, in fact, the Department and NHTSA have used Exponent----