Does the agency agree with that?

And the universe is what? And Senator Landrieu asked you this. But how many total cases are we talking about?

Let me just say that Senator Landrieu is absolutely right. There is a lot that we have to do.

Why did you not file it?

We just appreciate your interest and again thank you for requesting this GAO report.

Because we are dealing with the safety of the people of the District of Columbia and the visitors to the District of Columbia. And I think it is very important.

The General Accounting Office has determined that CFSA is not meeting the official requirements of the Adoption and Safe Families Act.

But if I have a 5,000 figure, and what's the figure, 5,000 what?

What I am hearing you tell me is, we have a new system. It is a Cadillac system.

Well, you know, if there is a target population that is likely to re-offend, it is your target population.

I draw the line when the system came into effect.

If the Administration does not come forward next year with this in their budget, it will not happen.

This looks like a big chunk in one year. Why is that?

So the figures that I cited, of course, are old figures in the sense that they were up to May of 2002.

$118 million would be one-fourth of the entire District of Columbia Subcommittee, our subcommittee's allocation.

But why was it laid out that way, is my question. Whose preference is it?

Well, if your answer to me would have been, Senator, it just costs too darn much money to do it, I might understand it.

It is also, of course, about accountability. And ultimately, and most importantly, it is about putting the safety and the health and well-being of thousands of children first, above all else.

You need to be on dual tracks, you need to be worried about 2004, but you also need to be worried with OMB about 2005.

That's why today's hearing will focus on ways that this subcommittee can target resources towards new initiatives.

Whoa. Is that not important? I mean, I can see notification being important. That is procedure.

We have made the welfare and safety of these children our top priority.

I am going to continue to have hearings. And we are going to keep digging for facts and findings.

I'm not happy to tell you that.

These kinds of reports make us all sick. And the CFSA needs to understand we are not going anywhere, none of us are going anywhere.