This hearing and others like it that I've been holding is especially important as we consider a new transportation bill for the country.

In my opinion, the result of all this is we have fiscal cancer, and it is metastasizing at the rate that very soon no surgery, no chemotherapy, no radiation will be able to cure the problem.

$1.4 trillion. That should sober us all.

some kind of special bipartisan process is going to be needed.

It is so clear to me, it is beyond question to me that you have to have a special process.

The President and Congress have acknowledged that the bulk of our budget problem lies in the health care, the area of health care entitlements.

I think this is going to be tough politically.

There is an increasing disconnect between the public and Washington.

The No. 2 issue of concern to Americans exceed only by the economy was escalating deficits and debt.

I do not want reductions in social programs. But I recognize there is no alternative.

As you have said, put bluntly, the decisionmaking process in Congress is broken. It must be fixed.