Frank Lautenberg

I get compliments regularly for the work that I do to protect the environment and the health of children.

We cannot be dissuaded from our mission that is to protect the well-being of our families.

Doesn't it strike you as kind of an anomaly in our pursuit of law and justice, protecting our citizens, that this is kind of a foolish way to turn our back on these things?

It is 10 years later. The loophole still exists. Do you think it is time for Congress to try again to get this sensible legislation in place?

The last question, Mr. Holder, in the last administration, the COPS program was nearly decimated with serious cuts in funding.

Doesn't it offend the sensibilities to know that guns can be bought at gun shows where your name isn't asked, no Social Security number is asked, no picture is taken, no reason for the gun purchase.

The members of this committee are acutely aware that we are struggling with the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression.

There is no more important concern that we have than what happens with the working public.

I close, Madam Chairman, with congratulations to the Attorney General for filling the positions that he has with highly capable people.

And what I am trying to figure out is why the timidity to these acts of theft and brutality?

I never criticize the bravery, the courage, the loyalty to duty that our service people have.

We have obligations to tend to your needs, to protect your lives, to rescue you if you are taken advantage of no matter where that is.

The pirates are back on the high seas.

Thanks, Senator Thune.

There is an obligation of a sovereign to take care of their ships.

There is nothing--nothing, in my view--like making sure that someone who is trying to take your life stands a chance of losing theirs.

We can't continue to go like this, but I have one more thing.

Thank you very much for your testimony and for bringing us that video.

They are out to kill people. That is what the threat is. And it is really hard to understand.

At what point do we say it is our responsibility?

That qualifier is very disturbing, I have got to tell you.

I do believe that arming the crew, as part of an overall strategy, could provide an effective deterrent under certain circumstances.

We have to have cops on the beat there because we know that there is trouble on these streets.

I think that letting our crews know that they are going to be protected by all of the might that the United States can bring to the situation.

Many of us thought that pirates were something from the past, found only in history books and movies.