So, Mr. Chairman, I think that one of the things that we ought to talk about--I know what is going to happen here.

I think I share Senator Byrd's concern that you have an unbelievable management task when you're talking about 208,000 people, 22 agencies...

they are just doing a whole lot better; dropout rate down, college attendance up.

I am so tired of year after year of running into people who say the hiring system does not work.

Listen, I am aware of that. They have done a better job; we are making progress.

I do not want, a year from now, to have you come in and testify and say, I am sorry, but we do not have the resources to get the job done.

One of the things that Senator Akaka and I worked on was the issue of annual leave tied solely to the employee's years of Federal employment.

I have worked tirelessly on that National Security Personnel System (NSPS) to improve performance in the Department of Defense (DOD).

We should take advantage of it.

Senator Akaka and I are very interested in giving you the resources that you need to get the job done.

The Bush Administration said, you know what, we have looked at this thing and we have to start from scratch.

Last but not least--this is a comment that I want to make--Ms. Duncan looks like she has got a pretty good operation.