George Voinovich

I look forward to working with each member of this committee to make sure that we reach that goal

I hope that as a result of these hearings, we can ascertain how we can help support our first responders in their home communities.

I hope this program stays focused on terrorism response and that we make sure that funds authorized don't just end up augmenting the Firefighters Grant Program.

The stronger the relationship between FEMA and State and local first responders the better our Nation's overall preparation will be in the event of a terrorist attack.

I believe that our first responsibility is to support the victims and their families.

I have found from my experience that how well we treat them now will have a lot to do with the kind of response that we are going to get from them in the future.

I sincerely believe that your Agency is the right one to handle this initiative.

I am very concerned that when the money is allocated that it is actually used for the things that you want it to.

They feel they are being nickeled and dimed in terms of the Agency.

I think it is incumbent on your Agency to work with the others and make sure that they get the information that they need.

I apologize for being late. I had a bill-signing at the White House.

My sister-in-law had cardiac arrest during the Inauguration, and she went over to George Washington University Hospital, so I had the chance to talk with some of the nurses over there.

So when you are talking about 'environment,' you are talking about the hours, the number of patients, physical facilities--could you elaborate on that a little bit more?

We just think the Federal Government's hiring process and human capital is in crisis, and we need to move very quickly if we are going to deal with these problems.

It would be unbelievable the burden that would remove in terms of hospital staff right across the board, because they are just bitter about it.

In terms of hiring civilians, do you think you have enough flexibility to do that?

So you had the discretion to do that--in other words, from a management point of view, you were able to do that.

Do you think, then, that we need to get more data in order to properly address the problem?

So what you are saying is that they recognize that there is a problem, and they have increased the funding, but that it is not enough to deal with what some would say is a shortage around the country, and that more needs to be done?

So you would not say that on the national level you have a real problem right now; things seem to be in balance?

Do you think that is going to be adequate to deal with the current situation?

So, if I heard you right, you are saying that on the national level, you think that the number of nurses is in balance with the demand for care and that should continue for the next several years but that you see a real problem from 2010…

One of the things that interested me in your testimony was that you indicated you really believe that Medicare adequately reimburses providers for nurses; is that correct?

I would like to ask a few questions now.

I am pleased that the Subcommittee is holding this hearing today to examine the nursing shortage in the United States.