Cory Booker

It is really about where can we invest and get the biggest return.

Incredible testimony... the true contribution you all have made in helping to grow the American economy.

I urge a unanimous vote for his confirmation.

I have no doubts whatsoever that he will do the same as Secretary of Homeland Security.

I would like to close with a question and a hope, a responsibility that I think you all have.

I am really thrilled today to have the chance to join Senator Menendez in introducing someone who I have known for quite some time.

So help us understand this. Does that even in any way seem rational to you to let the phasing in happen without even understanding and having the study completed?

if we do not address affordability, our risk is we are not going to be able to move this program to a sound basis.

I think the Obama Administration has many stars, and frankly none of them shine brighter than you do.

People do not know what a Secretary's number, they do not know necessarily what a legislator's number is, but they know where you live.

the thing that has chilled my understanding of what is going to happen to my region when the flood insurance rates go so up, it is going to devastate, completely devastate areas of New Jersey

It sounds like you are saying that the advisable thing to do would be to do it right, to actually understand--to do the study, allocate whatever resources are necessary so we understand and we do not fly into this blind and hurt a lot of…

I look forward to meeting with you and bringing to you a lot of the individual concerns.

this is probably one of the worst top two storms that has hit our country in the last century

I cannot thank you enough, Senator Begich and Senator Paul, for hosting this very important hearing.

I have a lot of affection for you even though we have only been colleagues for 6 days.

before you allow the phasing in of these incredibly high insurance rates, that we would know sort of what we are going to do to that region

I want to especially acknowledge my senior Senator, Senator Menendez. He is a true champion of our State.

From day one, you were crisscrossing the State, Senator, surveying damage and shepherding desperately needed Federal resources to New Jersey.

So we are rushing forward with this, not knowing the impact it is going to have, not knowing if we have even struck the right balance. That to me just seems a million percent wrong and damaging.

In New Jersey, we are resilient, we are determined, and we are incredibly resourceful.

On behalf of the people of New Jersey, I thank everyone for their leadership and for your recognition that much urgent work had to be done.

the sense of urgency you get from being a mayor is the sense of urgency we are going to treat this problem with.

I will not challenge Governor Chris Christie in the next election.

A lot of folks in need. We've had to do some rescues already. Fortunately, no reported casualties.