As noted by Committee Member Kuster, the Department of Defense is currently reforming policies regarding Servicemembers' protection against retaliation after reporting experiences of military sexual assault.

I think it is an important piece of information because of the history on this issue and because of the retribution and retaliation in some cases in people's careers, that there was good reason not to come forward.

I have two questions, if I could.

it is critical that we hear and understand what you are hearing regarding the impact of this shutdown on your membership and the damage that it is doing to our small business community.

the current congressional climate we are confronted with could not be any less ideal, indeed harmful for our small business community and our Nation.

the Republican-forced shutdown has cost my small business constituents nearly $800,000 in SBA approved 7(a) loans and 504 real estate and equipment loans.

I hope that your testimony will cause all of us to redouble our efforts to get the government back to work.

We very much want a clean continuing resolution to get the country back to work, get the government back to work.

One message I want to convey, along with Ms. Brownley and Mr. Wenstrup and Ms. Walorski and Ms. Kirkpatrick, is that we are recently elected...

I want to thank my colleague, Ms. Walorski, for leading what was truly an extraordinary effort on this whistleblower protection...

I think the connection to the services that are available in the community... is that there is this effect of a total vacuum.