Let's target the abusers. And we won't allow them to come to the United States.

Liu Xiaobo, who was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights in China, continues to remain incarcerated.

We just think the market is a much better and more efficient way of getting us there versus the kind of program we are going to hear about today from our witnesses.

China's leaders have grown more assertive in their violation of rights, disregarding the very laws and international standards that they claim to uphold.

I think it's a dangerous track, Congressman Scott, to go down to assume that judgments based on religion can be made by individuals.

Congress should decline the invitation to act to change federal sentencing policy.

I fail to see a need for such action.

So you would agree with the statement that Mr. Lewis and Mr. Anwyl made, that it seems to be the deal is already done.

It is very disheartening, to put it mildly.

As I told you when I was here a few weeks ago, and I sincerely mean, our top priority at SBA is to maximize opportunity for small businesses and ensure the benefits of our programs flow to the intended recipients.

We have cut the time in which the government takes to pay small business prime contractors in half, from 30 days down to 15 days.

I completely agree with you, Congressman, that the issue of payment and cash flow is of paramount importance right now.

In terms of ensuring that small businesses are a part of it, the prime contract will have to submit as part of--a material part o the contract, the subcontracting plan.

Sure. I think there are three things that I would say.

If a prime contractor is delinquent, which we have defined as--after substantial input and public comment period--defined as more than 90 days late, just like you said, in paying its small business subs.

In terms of the suspensions and debarments, we stepped it up quite a bit.

We can take the suspension action.

So if you were violating that, you were violating the terms of the contract.

that type of action is a real demonstration of the type of partnership we have with our inspector general and the Department of Justice, and evidence that this administration has absolutely zero tolerance for fraud, waste, and abuse.

We talk a lot about when we are engaging with small businesses and getting them up to speed to sell to the government about being contract ready.

Well, this presumption of law is new so it is still being stood up.

The contracting officers have the primary responsibility for ensuring small businesses that they enter into contracts with comply with the limitations on subcontracting.

In my mind there is no question we need a balanced budget requirement.

Maybe you haven't noticed, but Standard & Poor's just downgraded the bond rating of this country for the first time in 70 years.

But on our current course, there is going to be some point when that happens, and it can happen extraordinarily fast as a number of other countries have experienced.