If you could change one thing about the New Starts program, what would it be so that the next nationally significant project can complete the process in less than a decade?

Senator Schumer mentioned something that we have all regionally been working on and break ground Monday, I understand, the new Trans-Hudson Rail Tunnel project.

I think New Starts is a great idea, and I am glad you are having this hearing.

New Starts has been incredibly important to my home State.

We have an administration that understands and is willing to invest in the growing demand for transit.

The issue of same-sex marriage has changed very materially since the Defense of Marriage Act was passed in 1997.

The time has come for us to help people like Ms. Tan and to make the promise of America real for this sympathetic segment to the American population who is adversely and irrationally affected by our current immigration law.

For those who oppose this act, citing concerns of fraud, I counter with what our immigration officials themselves tell me.

I believe it is entirely consistent to accord people that opportunity on immigration so that if you have a same-sex union to give equal standing as really a civil rights issue.

No law is going to be perfect. But this law will encourage people to abide by the law rather than break it.

I am going to make a very strong attempt to try to get comprehensive immigration reform this year that I think can unite rather than divide people.

I believe we should value the sanctity of preserving the family structure in whatever form it may take.

The American people will not accept a pragmatic solution until we regain their confidence.

This is not a partisan issue of any sort.

I mean, you might say we should not do anything on legal immigration until there is not a single illegal immigrant who crosses the border.

It is now time for balanced, fair, and tough immigration reform.

I am convinced we owe the American people our very best effort to try and fix what we all acknowledge is a broken immigration system.

I wanted to see a commitment to three things: extending credit to families, restoring confidence, and clarity for the American people.

The U.S.-Mexico border is exponentially more secure today than it was in 2005 when we began discussing comprehensive immigration reform.

Perhaps the biggest step the Secretary has taken is the Public-Private Investment Program the Treasury Department rolled out in March.

The vast majority of Americans are pro-legal immigration and anti-illegal immigration.

With that in mind, I will view with great skepticism any move to give the Fed expanded authority.

I became cautiously optimistic that we can pass strong, fair, practical, and effective immigration reform this year.

What we need is boots on the ground. What we need is a surge like we had in Iraq.

In my opinion the programs laid out thus far by you, Mr. Secretary, go well beyond what is appropriate and necessary.