Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this markup and for including my bill, H.R. 3373, the Office of International Disability Rights Act.

One example I think of is the overwhelming passage of the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act from the House.

Well, when you create a trade war, and then try to resolve it and make that the priority as opposed to human rights, that is the kind of results that you get here in this country.

The overwhelming passage of the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act from the House.

The U.S. has been slow to recognize and respond to the ways that the Chinese government and Communist Party have moved into all different spaces of international relations.

On the one hand, the U.S. is conceding its leadership role in the protection of human rights.

we want to be sure that it is properly authorized, it is not going to run into trouble down the road.

We want transparency in real estate acquisitions.

I am committed to the kind of virtual Smithsonian, and recognizing that our goal ought to be to touch every home, to touch every school.

I believe the last Smithsonian oversight hearing that we held was in 2007.

You have a great story to tell to the American people.

we want to be engaged, and we want it to be a positive, collaborative relationship.

We need to be very thoughtful with the clear evidence, the clear evidence of how stupid it would be for us to go this HUD route.

It doesn't make sense. We look like a circus. We look like a bunch of clowns. This is all the same Federal Government.

It goes on to say, 'In response to a survey that we conducted for the report, 12 of 13 States and cities reported that navigating the multiple funding streams and various regulations was a challenge that affected their ability to maximize…

We have schools that aren't opening. We have kids that are challenged as a result of this, and I want to urge you to please expedite that.

This is so stupid, what we are doing. We are wasting money.

This is ridiculous what we do to people. Our own Federal Government revictimizes people.

I want to urge you, and I would like for you to come back to this committee and let us know your implementation timeline.

I think it is awful that they refused to attend today, and afraid to attend, to be held to the standard, to be held accountable for their performance over the last several years.

I just worry that without leadership at the top, some of these recommendations that you're making or that we're considering may just fall through the cracks.

I think there are so many different Federal programs that come together with different rules, requirements and regulations, and it's extremely difficult for State and local emergency managers to figure out how to synchronize and manage all…

Finally, of particular interest to me, are our most vulnerable populations, specifically how our preparation for response to, recovery from, and mitigation of disasters can be more inclusive of seniors and persons with disabilities.

Although additional resources are necessary--we realize that--in order to adequately respond to mounting disasters, consideration also needs to be given to the responsibilities of all levels of Government.

During this time of recovery, focus needs to be on the communities struggling to rebuild in the wake of these disasters.