All we are saying is, based on our audit work, TSA needs to provide clear-cut guidance and have procedures in place, and needs to follow through.

I commend the Department for continuing to meet and work on these management challenges and improve its operations and performance.

Good morning Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Keating and distinguished Members of the subcommittee: I am Charles K. Edwards, Acting Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on allegations of misconduct and illegal discrimination and retaliation in the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS).

The perception of discrimination was widely there.

Thank you for inviting me to testify today about the Department's contracting and acquisition policies.

We have to get the deficit down to about 3 percent of GDP in order to stabilize debt.

The longer we wait, the higher Federal debt becomes.

I do not believe in Federal bailouts because I think that is unfair to the frugal States.

I think that is interference in State local affairs that we do not really need.

I happen to disagree with it. We just passed a bill to try to address global warming.

For those of us who believe, as the Secretary said... that we do need more nuclear power plants.

I see the role of the Federal Government as being one that knocks down barriers or tries to create opportunities...

We have passed historic and unprecedented increases in V.A. funding.

Indian Country needs your help to provide health, education, and welfare for our membership.

Let me say, as chairman of the Military Construction Committee, the modernization of our DOD hospital system was shamefully ignored for many, many years through Democratic and Republican administrations.

It is no laughing matter to troops from Fort Hood near my district in Texas who are on their third or fourth tour of duty in Iraq and have small children back home and a spouse working.

given that slowdown in construction and in some parts of the country, reductions in the natural cost of construction, this might be a good time to make the investments in modernizing our DOD hospital system, improving our barracks, and…

So many congressional earmarks, Mr. Chairman, coming from Congress are actually Defense requests made from our commanders in theater or our base commanders whose requests were turned down by OMB.

As a Democrat, I am proud that after 12 years of a Republican majority in the U.S. House, when Democrats took control of the House 2 years ago, we, one, dropped the total number of earmarks dramatically; two, provided more transparency for…

Let me say that the Predator, the very effective Unmanned Aerial Vehicle that is saving lives and helping our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and carry out their mission today as we speak from the comfort and safety of this room, was a…

Let me say that the MRAPs program, that has saved a dramatic number of lives by deflecting the power of IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan, was either a congressional earmark or a program that was strongly pushed by Congress at a time it was…

I have concerns about the readiness of our Army as well as our other services.

Thanks to MILCON/VA Appropriations Chairman Chet Edwards, VA received a $2 million appropriation for IT support.

We will ask the Pentagon whether it is being reconsidered or if they are moving ahead.