Tom Cole

I would encourage those above my pay grade and in the Administration above your pay grade to actually engage in that negotiation sooner rather than later.

I continue to hope for a larger budget deal between Congress and the Administration.

I actually agree with you and my distinguished ranking member, I hope we have a negotiation some time to actually deal with it.

The grim reality is that sequester is, indeed, the law of the land.

I think the average cost is a little bit over $3,000 a year.

I just appreciate the level of commitment to public service.

We know we have got, as you said, an age wave--I like that term, I am going to steal it--coming along, and it is going to put a strain on all parts and particularly the discretionary part of the budget.

I would much prefer--I would never presume to draw you, Commissioner, into a discussion on what I think needs to happen long term on Social Security.

I think they should go to jail regardless of their age.

I want to move to the gentleman from Idaho.

Let me just in concluding make a few remarks. First of all, I want to thank both of you, honestly, for the wonderful work that you do and the people that work with you and your respective staffs.

It is not just the sustenance. It is the social contact and the interaction that you get when you are actually with a group.

I commend your fraud effort in terms of what I have seen personally, actually before I was on this subcommittee.

I think I went over mine. So that is okay.

Mr. Delaney and I will be dropping a bill next week that actually deals with the entitlement issue and Social Security.

But just for the record, this is not a policy. It is the law. It is a law that Congress passed.

I have concerns that your budget is based on financial tax increases and fees that are unlikely to pass and actually become law.

However, 6 months after the mandate was issued, your Office of Civil Rights has failed to take corrective action.

There is another body here, the United States Senate. And they are going to have to come up with their budget.

If we could get something that is systematic, it just strengthens those of us that make the argument that this is a good investment; not just an obligation, but something that is really changing people's lives for the better.

We would like to give you everything you asked for, but if you could not get everything you wanted, what are the absolute most important priorities to continue the progress that you have been able to make in the last few years?

Well, I have very little time and actually less time than my friend has, so I would prefer you to use your own time. If they are not willing to give you any time, then perhaps I will reconsider that. With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the…

For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my good friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time…

For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), my good friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time…

I continue to reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire from the gentleman from Oklahoma whether he has any additional speakers or if he would like to give us some of his time?