if we want this data, we ought to pay for it

your description of the treatment situation in the country today was pretty grim

Well, I am going to know something in the first year, but I am not going to know----

If you were trying to fix this, one way you could possibly fix it is to go into those different formulas.

It is our duty and our responsibility to make sure that this city is placed on solid financial ground.

So I would maintain that one could argue that that figure that you cited is understated.

I want to help close the financial gap and help ensure the long-term economic health of our Nation's capital.

I have been given a capital cities comparative analysis.

And as Dr. Rivlin said, you know, we all know just from our own houses that the longer you wait, if you have an old house--and we have an old house here in the District--the longer you wait, the more you are going to pay.

I believe that the Federal Government must recognize the costs it places on the city and the burden it places on the city's infrastructure.

How do we get something like this passed in Congress? We have got a tough--this is not an easy time.

The reality is, as Senator Landrieu was saying, there is a funding limitation.

Well, we thank you very much. It has been very interesting and very enlightening, and we want to continue to work with you in the future.

Dr. Nathan, in your book you talk about this concept of shared facilities, which is a intriguing concept.

It is up-front money that is the problem.

We have them all over the country.

I mean, that is the challenge, getting the money up front and convincing people that it should be done.

I just, you know, would hope that working with the administration we can do better in this area.

that's why I was so happy in the last hearing to hear Secretary Powell say that, you know, he supports our trade bill.

I don't know any other way of doing it than to put some investment and some money into agriculture.

I, along with Secretary Powell, support the Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act of 2004.

We need a deadline. We have got--this subcommittee provides 100 percent of the funds for the District for the Courts.

I expect you to reach an agreement and submit your plans to the National Capital Planning Commission no later than March 3.

I am concerned, however, to know that Court officials and representatives of the National Law Enforcement Museum Fund have been unable to reach an agreement on the design of their shared space in Judiciary Square.

Let me invite our other panelists to come up.